A Macclesfield man driven by both a professional and a personal cause, says he’s now got the “marathon bug” after completing his first 26-mile run in London.
Damian Lacey, 45, began running four years ago doing to “Coach to 5k” with Macclesfield Harriers and decided to tackle his first marathon to raise funds for the East Cheshire Hospice following the death of his mother-in-law, Linda Tute, last September.
“Linda was cared for by the Hospice @ Home team which is a truly wonderful service and had previously spent six weeks there as an in-patient in 2017 so I knew from personal experience the important work of the Hospice,” says Damian.
And Damian’s support for the Hospice also has a professional foundation as he encounters it regularly in his job as a specialist Macmillan nurse working in the Macclesfield area.
“I have seen the phenomenal palliative care they provide from both sides and really wanted to give something back,” says Damian, “although I knew a marathon was going to really stretch me.
But Damian, from Tytherington, knew he had made the right choice when he found out he had been successful in securing a place in the London Marathon on the day of Linda’s funeral.
“We were getting ready to leave when a letter dropped through the postbox telling me I had a place – I knew there was no backing out,” laughs Damian.
“I had a problem with my knee from mile 16 which really hampered me, and I had to stop at the medical bay and get some massage from one of the physios,” says Damian. “But I got back out. and I think Linda must have been watching me because I got to mile 24 and the pain disappeared and I was able to pick up my pace and make up a lot of time. “