Chris Haslam, Head of Athletic Performance at Brentford FC, will be among of tens of thousands of people pounding the streets of London in the name of sport and charity later this month. The 2019 Virgin London Marathon takes place on Sunday 28 April and around 40,000 people will run from Blackheath to The Mall and cover the 26.2-mile course. Chris will be among them.

It is not the first time that Chris has run the marathon but this time it will mean a little bit more. Chris’ father died of cancer in November 2018 and in his last months he was cared for by the Peace Hospice, in Watford. Chris will be running the marathon at the end of the month to raise money for the hospice. He is aiming to raise £8,000 and is already a third of the way there.

Chris said: “This charity is very close to my heart. I am running and raising money for the hospice that cared for my Dad through his 12-month cancer battle before he sadly passed away in November last year. During this incredibly tough time, not only for my Dad but also our family, the Peace Hospice offered incredible support and guidance to us all. The endless care from the team leader, support team, and all associated within the hospice made a significant positive impact upon my father and family.

“Neither my dad or our family could ever thank Watford Peace Hospice enough for all their efforts, however the ability to run and raise money for the Peace Hospice during the 2019 Virgin London Marathon, gives me the opportunity to offer a small thank you in return. It is a true honour and privilege to run for such an amazing charity and support something which is so close to the hearts of all my family.

"During his battle, with three days worth of chemotherapy every two weeks, Brentford was a massive support to him. Attending every home match offered him the ability to shift his focus away from his cancer and chemotherapy treatment, and allowed him to focus on the excitement which was always on offer at Griffin Park. He would even schedule his chemotherapy around the matches so he would not miss a single match. Along with Peace Hospice Care, Brentford was an amazing support to my father."

Brentford will also be dedicating the match against Leeds United, on Monday 22 April, to the charity. There will be collection buckets for supporters to donate and t-shirts will be worn by the players on the day. Fans can also sponsor Chris online at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ChrisHaslam4.

Brentford fan Lisa Collings is also running the marathon. She will be raising money for Dementia UK. The Collings family are all regulars at Griffin Park and Lisa is running in memory of her father and to support her mother, who is living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Read about Lisa’s story and sponsor her at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/lisa-collings-dementia-uk-london-marathon.