Blog

For my ‘little boys’ 18th Birthday I will be honouring his memory by carrying him around the iconic London Marathon for 26.2 miles. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be of course.

Firstly, because originally it was scheduled for April 2021, when the event usually takes place. However, it was moved to October due to the current Covid pandemic which has unexpectedly restricted all of our lives for the most part of a year now.

And secondly, I should have been planning a celebration, or party, or to buy Harry a drink but I lost all of that future, all of that hope, when his life suddenly stopped at 5 years old. I could literally fantasise about what we would have done but the truth is I don’t know my almost 18-year-old boy and have spent less time with him than I have mourning him. For all I know, we could have been at each other’s throats, he could have been a royal pain in the bum!

But I get to choose who he would be at the cusp of adulthood, and I choose that he would be the kind and sensitive, smart, sweet little boy I knew.

So, just over 3 weeks prior to his birthday I will undertake this huge challenge. Yes, I have run a Marathon before and swore I’d never do it again UNLESS it was THE Virgin London Marathon. I have been applying for a ballot place ever since Lee, my husband -Harry’s Dad- ran his first one in 2012. The atmosphere is electric! But regrettably, like many others, I get the resounding No magazine every year. Then there was an opportunity that presented itself in the form of a charity ballot place for Harry’s Rainbow. As founder, I discussed the possibility of taking the place with the team and board members and am delighted that they were all unanimous that I should be the one to run for the very charity set up in Harry’s memory. I was absolutely over the moon with their response. To know the team around me support me, believe in me and feel that I am the best person for the job makes me more determined to achieve this challenge.

This is not only a physical challenge but mental too and of course I have set myself a very ambitious goal to raise £2000. This amount of money would be incredible for Harry’s Rainbow and the bereaved children we support, particularly when we are going through a particularly tough period. Both in terms of income we need to achieve but also the effect the pandemic has of our beneficiaries who are typically already isolated and lonely; restricting social interaction adds greatly to those feelings and is likely to have lasting effects too. Fortunately, children are supported for as long as they need it and the charity now support young adults up to age 25.

Since finding out I was running, I have run over 80 times, at least 300 miles with a maximum distance so far of 9.5 miles. I am looking for any support of sponsorship and am also delighted to have 2 company sponsors, Amina’s Flavours & Walnut Tree Leather who I will introduce in another Blog very soon.

To sponsor me https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/OdetteRunsLondon

If you’d like to continue reading my blogs, please follow my Facebook. Twitter and Instagram pages and check back here from time to time :0)