MARATHON: When thousands of runners in this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon get ready at the starting line, there will be two among them running in support of the Hospice of the Valleys.

Crossing the line, will be Cathy Johnson and Ashley Owen. They are both on a mission to complete a personal long-held ambition – and both are determined to raise as much money as possible for the Blaenau Gwent Hospice.

Cathy, who will be 53, and Ashley, 50, are both well into their training in preparation for running just over 26 miles in the marathon on April 23.

Cathy, who lives in Tredegar has taken part in many Hospice challenges in recent years, including the National Three Peaks Challenge – twice – raising thousands of pounds. Her partner Kevin Phillips’ late father Roland was a patient with the hospice and this has fuelled her motivation to raise money for the charity.

Ashley, who is sport and fitness manager with Aneurin Leisure, says he is running in support of the Hospice, partly because of the charity’s recently begun two-year partnership with Aneurin Leisure. But he also remembers the caring way the Hospice nurses looked after his father Gareth, who was a patient with the Hospice of the Valleys 11 years ago. Ashley is no stranger to distance events, he has taken part in many triathlons and ten years ago took part in the Ironman Triathlon in memory of his father, raising money for the Hospice of the Valleys.

Hospice fundraiser Helen Morgan said: ‘We are extremely grateful to both Ashley and Cathy for their huge efforts in support of our charity. We wish them the very best of luck with their training, and on the day, and hope the community of Blaenau Gwent will get behind them and help encourage them.’

If anyone would like to support Ashley and Cathy by sponsoring them, visit our Facebook page or hospiceofthevalleys.org.uk.