Husband and wife team Lee and Becci Rhodes are on the run again to support Saint Francis Hospice – the charity which has been there to care and support family, friends and colleagues at the most difficult time in their lives.

Super fit Lee, 34, will be running his fourth Virgin London Marathon on Sunday, April 22nd – three of which have been for Saint Francis Hospice.

And both Lee and Becci, who live in Brentwood, will be taking part in their third Brentwood Half Marathon on Sunday, March 18th.

“I applied for one of the hospice’s Gold Bond places which gave me the opportunity to run the marathon again and raise money for the hospice,” said Lee.

“The Virgin London Marathon is the one to do for me as London is my home city.

“I still have targets I want to beat and I have set myself a target of getting my personal best of four hours.”

Living locally, the Brentwood Half Marathon is the perfect event for Lee to prepare for the 26.2mile feat the following month and for Becci, who says she isn’t a natural runner, it’s a great challenge on her doorstep.

“It’s local, there is a great sense of community and it is definitely the most sociable race I have ever done,” said Becci, 37, who already has six half marathons under her belt.

“There is always a band playing and people even come out and hand out sweets to runners.
“Me and Lee don’t run together as we have different paces but we are really good at motivating each other.”

The couple, who both work at HCL Insurance BPO Services Ltd in Romford, have a lot of personal connections with Saint Francis Hospice in Havering-atte-Bower.

It cared for Becci’s great uncle in 2008 and since then it has cared for friends, a neighbour and a work colleague.

“I remember visiting the hospice a couple of years after my great uncle died to see one of the ladies I work with and I was really nervous,” said Becci.

“There was such a lovely atmosphere and it was so relaxing; it didn’t feel like a hospital.

“I still remember a lady coming around in the evening to patients with a drinks trolley.

“The hospice feels more like a family to us now and we want to do everything we can to keep raising money for the charity. It is just really in our hearts.”

Lee, who took part in the Prudential Ride London to Surrey 100 last July with two friends, also says supporting the hospice, which is a local charity, is more rewarding than fundraising for larger national charities.

“At Saint Francis Hospice there always seems to be a massive appreciation from the fundraising team,” he added.

To sponsor Lee visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lee-rhodes2018

There’s still time to sign up for the Brentwood Half Marathon. Book today by visiting sfh.org.uk or calling 01708 771427.