A Billingsley woman is in training to run her first London Marathon in memory of her grandparents, who both died from cancer.
Zoe Baggott, 35, will be aiming to raise £2,000 for the World Cancer Research Fund, as she pounds the streets of the capital on April 25.
She will be supported on the day by her two children - Oliver, 6 and Lydia, 3, as well as her parents, Chris and Rob Kelsey from Stottesdon.
“The day of the London Marathon is Lydia’s fourth birthday, and the children have never been to London before, so it’s going to be a very special weekend for all of us. Both my grandparents suffered from lung cancer and I have supported WCRF ever since my grandad passed away 18 months ago,” explained Zoe, pictured, who is a forensic area manager for West Midlands Police.
“It was heartbreaking to watch the deterioration of health in them both, but especially my grandma as she had always been so full of life. For as long a I can remember I have wanted to run the London Marathon,” added Zoe, who has run both the Birmingham and Coventry half-marathons and is regularly seen training on the lanes near her home.
“I have always believed in setting goals for myself and my new philosophy is to do something new each year that I have never done before. Training is challenging, but it is going well and I’m really enjoying getting fit and healthy.
“Being a mum with a full-time job means sometimes it can be difficult to focus just on myself, so this gives me an excuse for a bit of ‘me-time’, as well as giving me the chance to raise some money for WCRF and thank them for the work they do.”
“We are so grateful to Zoe for such an amazing effort and wish her the very best of luck on the day,” said WCRF events manager Natalie Tarrant.
Zoe, who can be sponsored for the marathon by visiting www.wcrf-uk.org/sponsor, is also arranging an Easter quiz night to raise funds for the WCRF.
This will be held at Kinlet Village Hall on Saturday, April 10 and tickets cost £10 for a team with a maximum of ten people, to include light refreshments.
There will be a bar and raffle. Contact Zoe on 07974 808817.