Last week, Jeremy Hunt MP ran his third London Marathon and in the process, raised over £43,000 for a new Cancer Centre at the Royal Surrey Hospital in Guildford.
Writing for the Farnham Herald, Jeremy said:
"Last Sunday I ran my third London Marathon so I wanted to use this column to write a massive thank you to everyone who supported me (again!) this year. Over £43,000 has been raised for a new Cancer Centre at the Royal Surrey, making a grand total of £110,500 raised from my three marathons. Having visited the site a few weeks ago, it is clear just how much of a difference this centre will make, treating an extra 7,000 people each year and meaning that many more families will avoid the heartache of losing loved ones to cancer.
"It goes without saying that the day was exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure! The weather was ideal for the day– not hot and not freezing– but there are sections during which you feel totally drained. But the amazing upbeat energy of the crowds, the bands, and the singers across the whole route make sure that runners all have high spirits throughout. Of course my favourite moment was meeting up with my wife Lucia and three children during the run.
"I was running in a huge group of 20 people overall, who are all close friends and family of my brother. Charlie was the one who convinced me to run my first marathon in 2022 but sadly passed away last summer. His group raised over £100,000 for Sarcoma UK, a charity which funds research into the highly aggressive cancer, and supports those diagnosed with it. That was the most noticeable thing about the day: so many people raising funds for good causes, especially health causes and often in honour of lost loved ones. It was an eccentric, public spirited and generous-hearted event - the very best of British and something I was truly proud to be part of. A massive thank you to the 473 people who supported me this time.
"When I somewhat reluctantly agreed to run my first London Marathon, I definitely did not think I would be doing two more over the course of a year and a half. But I find running to be a valuable way to relax and gives me the space to have some thinking time when the demands from the day job are particularly intense. Will I do a fourth?! I think probably not but never say never…"
