Newark sisters to run London Marathon in memory of late father

Melissa Anstey and Louise Tucker will run in memory of their father to raise funds for Beaumond House Hospice Care

Two sisters from Newark are set to run the London Marathon on Sunday 26 April to commemorate their late father, who ran the marathon in 1982.

Raising funds for local charity Beaumond House Hospice Care, Melissa Anstey and Louise Tucker were inspired after finding a photograph of their father, Richard, running the marathon 45 years ago. They will now raise funds for the hospice that supported their family at one of the most difficult times of their life.

Melissa and Louise were just six and nine years old while Richard was cared for by Beaumond House in 1995 after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. The hospice provided day care support for Richard to assist the family, and the sisters were able to spend precious time with him there.

The charity supported Melissa and Louise to understand their loss, as well as supporting their mother by offering Complementary Therapy such as massages. Hospice staff also gave the family the idea to create memory books, which helped the sisters to process the change and gave them something to cherish many years after his death. 

Melissa said:

“Finding a photo of our dad crossing the finish line of the London Marathon, which he completed in just over four hours, reminded us of his perseverance and inspired us to take on the challenge. He ran the marathon before we were even born, but the photograph has become a powerful symbol for us of his strength, spirit and determination.

“To be able to follow in his footsteps and run that same race, 30 years on, in aid of the hospice that supported us through such a life-defining time, will be incredibly special.”

Training has become a shared journey, with the sisters following a 20-week plan after completing three half marathons in 2025. Running together has helped to keep them motivated, with friends, family and members of the local community cheering them on along the way.

Louise added: 

“Training together has been great - Melissa and I make each other laugh when we can see that we need a pick-me-up. The longer training runs are getting hard now, but we are making each one a community event, asking people to come out and cheer us on - or feed us sweets to keep us going!

“The support from our family and friends, as well as local businesses, has been amazing.”

The pair have set a fundraising target of £5,000 and have so far raised over £3,000 through a series of events supported by local businesses and supporters.

Caroline Swindin, Head of Fundraising at Beaumond House, said:

“We are incredibly grateful to Melissa and Louise for choosing to support Beaumond House in such a meaningful way. Their story is truly inspiring and we’re all rooting for them as they prepare to run their first marathon.

“The care and support we provide is only possible thanks to the dedication of our supporters and fundraisers, like Melissa and Louise. Every pound raised helps us to continue providing compassionate, personalised care to patients and families when they need it most.”

Anyone wishing to support Melissa and Louise can donate through their JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/page/melissa-louise-lm26. 

If you’re feeling inspired, why not take on the challenge yourself? We’re now accepting applications for our London Marathon 2027 charity places – apply here and be part of something amazing!