Runners raise £200k for hospice care

Grandson Eliot Hilton from Reading raised £5,466 in support of St Barnabas House also at London Marathon, inspired by the ‘amazing’ care his ‘Nana’ received in February 2023, and his Auntie Melanie ten years before.

He said: “There wasn’t anything that our Nana wouldn’t do for us. She was the kindest, most caring and strong woman you could ever meet. The care my Nana and our family received from the team at St Barnabas House hospice in Worthing was nothing short of amazing. In such a difficult time for us all, knowing my Nana was being cared for so lovingly in her last days, just like she did for us all during her better days, made it much easier for me and my family.”

Son Christian Crowley from Hove ran the Brighton Marathon and raised £10,125 for Martlets in memory of his mum who was cared for in July 2025. He said: “In my mum’s final days, Martlets cared for her with kindness and compassion. Not only did they provide a fantastic service to my mum, they also supported my family and I through a very difficult time.”

Vital support from our local communities

It costs almost £34m to run the three hospices which make up Southern Hospice Group with less than a tenth of the funding coming from the NHS. Demand for care is rising, but so are costs, and the Group has had to make some difficult decisions recently to re-shape its services so it can continue to be here for families to offer specialist palliative and end-of-life care.

Christian added: “I’d say to anyone thinking of fundraising for Martlets: just do it. The fundraising team will help you find something you’ll enjoy. You might think hospice care isn’t relevant to your life right now, but things can change in an instant. Hospices rely on local communities for most of their income. There’s an issue with hospice funding in the UK at the moment and it’s heartbreaking. People don’t realise just how important hospices are until they’re in a time of need. So please help in any way you can.”

In addition to individual runners, Southern Hospice Group has also had support from some of its corporate partners, including Paw Paddock, an exclusive, enclosed and secure dog walking provider with multiple paddocks across Hampshire and Sussex. Director Helen took part in the London Marathon alongside her mum, Mandy. Her son Archie was cared for by Chestnut Tree House in 2025. Helen said: “Within the first few days of losing him, Chestnut Tree House scooped us up and treated Archie and us with such love and care. We will never forget how special they made that time and have such admiration for what they do.” Through a combination of corporate fundraising activities, including a photoshoot and their Golf Day, Paw Paddock and the family have raised more than £40,000 for the hospice.

Sending thanks to all our runners

Events fundraising executive Kara Hopgood manages the team of runners for the Group. She explained how their dedication is making a vital contribution to specialist palliative and end-of-life care across the counties. “Every runner is part of a bigger team, and every mile they cover makes a real difference for hospice care. This spring, our runners have shown incredible commitment, often honouring loved ones or as part of their own healing journey. Together, they’re helping us support families through some of the hardest moments of their lives. But we couldn’t do it without them, and all our other fundraisers across our communities, so I want to say a huge thank you to everyone.”

There are more challenge events coming up over the summer. Chestnut Tree House is the official charity partner for the Littlehampton 10k on Sunday 6 September, managed by RUN-FEST. The popular event attracts runners from across the counties and sold out in 2025. To find out how to take part, visit: www.run-fest.com or any of the hospice websites where you can find full event listings.