Prescot Woman Runs Marathon for Late Mum

A 43-year-old mother of two will be pounding the streets of Liverpool on Sunday 29 May as she takes part in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in memory of her mum, Liz Elms (pictured with her daughter).

It’s just the latest in a series of challenges Clare Brown, from Prescot, has undertaken over the last few years to help raise money for local charity Willowbrook Hospice.

The hospice looked after Liz during the final few months of her life before she lost her brave battle against cancer in September 2012.

“My mum originally went into Willowbrook for a couple of days to get her pain medication under control,” Clare said, “but as her condition gradually worsened, being at the hospice was the only way to control her pain.”

She described the care her mother received as “unbelievable,” saying they looked after her and the whole family “with dignity, respect and love.”

“At first I had to persuade my mum to try it, as she thought it would be like a hospital, but after the first time she felt so relaxed and happy there.

“I honestly don’t know how we would have got through it without Willowbrook. It was, and still is, the most painful part of my life, and having my mum so well looked after in the hospice and her wanting to be there – she was desperate not to be in hospital – made an awful experience a little bit better.”

Liz’s dying wish was that Clare help raise funds to support the work of Willowbrook.

“You can’t break a promise to your mum,” Clare said.

Since her mother sadly passed away, Clare has taken part in the St Helens 10km and the Cheshire Triathalon, raising more than £5,000 for the hospice. With the Liverpool Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon, she faces her toughest challenge yet.

“The marathon has definitely been the hardest to train for. It’s just relentless running.”

Training has literally taken over Clare’s weekends – no mean feat with a full-time job and a family to look after.

“But it will be worth it,” she says, “and I know that my mum would be proud of me. From personal experience I realise the difference that the hospice makes – not just to the patients but to their families as well – and I want to do my bit to ensure that they can carry on doing this.”

According to Willowbrook fundraising chief Nichola Saunders, the hospice needs to raise over £4 million a year to run and develop its services.

“We depend on the generosity of the communities of St Helens and Knowsley,” Nichola said, “and it’s thanks to people like Clare that we can continue to care for local people and their families. She’s an inspiration!”

GIVE GENEROUSLY

Visiting Clare’s JustGiving page to make a donation and help raise money for Willowbrook Hospice.

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