This entry was posted on Monday, March 17th, 2014at 1:03 pm by zoe.leahy@activenation.org.uk

Angela’s Running The London Marathon In Memory Of Her Mum

Some people dream of big houses and flash cars, but in a few weeks time Angela Bainbridge is going to fulfil her lifelong ambition when she runs the London Marathon – in memory of her Mum.

Angela, a regular at Active Nation’s Birchwood Leisure Centre in Lincoln, says her mum Jean Rontree was an amazing woman who brought up three daughters on her own. In January 2010, Jean was told she had cancer of the kidney, she was operated on and surgeons removed a tumour the size of a tennis ball.

Tests revealed that Jean also had nodules on her lung and liver. Despite undergoing treatment she sadly died on the 4th March 2011.

Angela said: “When I was little we used to sit and watch the London Marathon just the two of us every year – she always said she would do it one day but never did. I said by the time I was 30 I would too – when your 8 years old, 30 is a long way away.

“On 27th January 2013 I decided that the time was right to fulfill that dream. A crazy notion I know, but if I was going to do it 2014 would be the ideal year – I turn 40 and my mum would have been turning 65. So I started running – well walking and moving slightly faster than walking speed.”

Angela completed her first challenge – the 2013 Active Nation Lincoln 10k – in 1:14:17. Angela was pleased with her time and was ready to build on it when disaster struck. She partially tore her Achilles tendon and was out of training for 2 months.

Then, 2 weeks back into her programme she was involved in a car accident and suffered whiplash in her back, shoulder, neck and arm.

With just three weeks until the Great North Run, Angela got the all clear to return to running. She completed the race in 2:59:12. An incredible achievement when you consider all of her setbacks.

Angela added: “So now for the main event The London Marathon – 26.2 miles of blood, sweat and tears but if I manage to raise enough money then it will all be worth it.

“Macmillan Cancer Support did so much to make the last few months of my mum’s life the best it could be and their work is invaluable. Hopefully you will never need to experience the care and compassion each and every person working for Macmillan has, but if you have then you know how much they are worth.”

Not content with running the London Marathon on April 13, Angela is also busy inspiring others to get active and raise some cash for Macmillan Cancer Support. Not only are friends and family completing personal fundraising challenges, but Angela is also organising virtual 5K, 10K or Half Marathon runs. These can be done anytime, anyplace, anywhere until the 13th April. For more information visit: www.virginmoneygiving.com/AngelaBainbridge where you can also sponsor Angela for the London Marathon.