Widow to Run London Marathon in Wedding Dress, Honoring Late Husband and Raising cancer Awareness
LONDON – A widow will commemorate her sixth wedding anniversary by running the London Marathon, planning to cross the finish line in her wedding dress to honor her late husband and raise funds for blood cancer research.
Marathon Mission: Widow’s Tribute to Late Husband
Laura Coleman-Day, of Lincolnshire, will run Sunday’s marathon, the last of 13 marathons she has completed in a year to support Anthony Nolan, a blood cancer and stem cell research charity. She lost her husband, xander, an RAF aerospace battle manager, last year to complications following a transplant after he developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Friendship and Remembrance: Running for a Cause
Coleman-Day will be joined by her freind, Kate Walford of Guernsey, who is also dedicated to running 12 marathons in a year. Walford is running in memory of her close friend and son’s godfather, Mark, who died in 2018 after battling leukemia for the second time.
A Symbolic Gesture: Mile 23
“I thought what better way to honor the day and honour him than crossing the line in my wedding dress,” Coleman-Day said, noting that she and Walford plan to stop at mile 23 to put on the dress. Speaking about the race, she said “I can’t wait. Its going to be really hard, but also just such a massive achievement.”
Driven by Loss: A Personal Connection
Coleman-Day’s commitment stems from a desire to prevent others from experiencing the pain she and her son have endured. She chose to support Anthony nolan as of their research into post-transplant complications.
Keeping a Promise: Continuing a Legacy
Walford shares that running had never been a passion, but she was resolute to fulfill a promise to her friend, Mark, who actively fundraised during his illness. “We did have a final conversation where he said ‘You’ve got to carry on raising money, raising the profile and helping more people’ and that’s where it started,” Walford stated.
A Bond Formed Through Shared Experiences
coleman-Day and Walford met through Anthony Nolan in 2023 and ran the Guernsey Marathon together in early April. “Although we haven’t spent a lot of time together in person, I’ve got a friend for life now,” said Coleman-Day.
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Widow to Run London Marathon in Wedding Dress, Honoring Late Husband and Raising cancer awareness
LONDON – A widow will commemorate her sixth wedding anniversary by running the London Marathon, planning to cross the finish line in her wedding dress to honor her late husband and raise funds for blood cancer research.
Marathon Mission: Widow’s Tribute to Late Husband
laura Coleman-Day, of Lincolnshire, will run Sunday’s marathon, the last of 13 marathons she has completed in a year to support Anthony Nolan, a blood cancer and stem cell research charity. She lost her husband, xander, an RAF aerospace battle manager, last year to complications following a transplant after he developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Friendship and Remembrance: Running for a Cause
Coleman-Day will be joined by her freind, Kate Walford of Guernsey, who is also dedicated to running 12 marathons in a year. Walford is running in memory of her close friend and son’s godfather, Mark, who died in 2018 after battling leukemia for the second time.
A Symbolic Gesture: Mile 23
“I thought what better way to honor the day and honor him than crossing the line in my wedding dress,” Coleman-Day said, noting that she and Walford plan to stop at mile 23 to put on the dress. Speaking about the race, she said “I can’t wait.Its going to be really hard, but also just such a massive achievement.”
Driven by Loss: A Personal Connection
Coleman-Day’s commitment stems from a desire to prevent others from experiencing the pain she and her son have endured. She chose to support Anthony nolan as of their research into post-transplant complications.
Keeping a Promise: Continuing a Legacy
Walford shares that running had never been a passion, but she was resolute to fulfill a promise to her friend, Mark, who actively fundraised during his illness. “We did have a final conversation were he said ’You’ve got to carry on raising money, raising the profile and helping more people’ and that’s where it started,” Walford stated.
A Bond Formed Through Shared Experiences
coleman-Day and Walford met through Anthony Nolan in 2023 and ran the guernsey Marathon together in early April. “Although we haven’t spent a lot of time together in person, I’ve got a friend for life now,” said Coleman-Day.
Q&A: london Marathon Wedding Dress Run
What is Laura Coleman-Day doing?
Laura Coleman-Day is running the London Marathon in her wedding dress to honor her late husband, Xander, and raise money for Anthony Nolan, a blood cancer and stem cell research charity. This is her 13th marathon in a year.
Who is Anthony nolan?
Anthony Nolan is a UK-based charity that matches people willing to donate their blood stem cells or bone marrow to patients who need a transplant. They also fund research into blood cancers and transplants.
What is acute lymphoblastic leukemia?
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It is the most common type of leukemia in children and also occurs in adults.
Why mile 23?
Laura and her friend, Kate, plan to put on the wedding dress at mile 23 of the marathon as a symbolic gesture to honor Laura’s late husband, Xander, on their wedding anniversary.
Who is Kate Walford?
Kate Walford is running the marathon alongside Laura. She is running in memory of her friend, Mark, who died from leukemia. She is also aiming to complete 12 marathons in a year.
How can I support Anthony Nolan?
You can donate to Anthony Nolan through their website (anthonynolan.org). Additionally,you can register as a potential stem cell donor if you are aged between 16-30 (in the UK). Consider organizing a fundraising event of yoru own!
Inspired by Laura and Kate’s dedication? Consider supporting their cause and learn more about Anthony Nolan’s vital work. Every step counts in the fight against blood cancer.
