How running the London Marathon helped me manage my grief - and why I’m doing it again
Laura Gilmore, a 37-year-old Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) from Prestwick near Glasgow, will be tackling the iconic TSC London Marathon for Asthma + Lung UK Scotland for the second time. She tells us how running helped managed her grief after losing her dad to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and why she’s fundraising in his memory.
This is my second time running the London Marathon for Asthma + Lung UK since I sadly lost my dad John, age 63 to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in May 2016. Since then, I have championed the need for vital research to lead the way in improving care and treatment for people with lung conditions across the UK. This is why my friend Ian and I have chosen to run for Asthma + Lung UK Scotland to raise money for their incredible work.
An outlet for grief
I previously ran the London Marathon for Team Breathe in 2017, when training became an essential outlet for managing my grief. Many other members of Team Breathe are running in memory of a loved one. Step by step, it helps us manage the emotional strain grief places on us. Sweating out the sadness and focusing on the finish line for a cause close to our hearts, becomes our daily driver.
From my initial runs working towards a 10km to the ever-increasing mileage and training towards the final 26.2 miles, it’s proving to be an incredible journey so far. The pearls and pitfalls in training for a marathon are faced daily!
Getting to the finish line
Looking forward to the final few weeks of my training. I will rely on the support of my family and friends, particularly my amazing friend Ian who will be running alongside me. He’s travelled the world running 65 marathons to date and is even a Guinness World Record holder (fastest runner dressed as an alien – time 3:23:05)!
I wish my fellow Team Breathe runners well – to keep the faith and to keep up the pace with their fundraising up to the big day. Together we’ll cross the finish line with the support of our friends and family. We want to make a difference to the lives of many affected by lung disease and maybe, just maybe, help save a life.
Stay up to date on Laura’s progress here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/laura-gilmore13
We empower people with lung conditions to make changes that can be transformative.
Please donate now to help make sure people with lung conditions can live well this year.
Other Your Stories posts you may like:
Other posts you may like
Earlier this year. Grace , who is part of our Research + Innovation team, challenged herself to walk 100 miles in March to raise money for Asthma + Lung UK. After signing up, she had the surprising realisation that she was one of the one in five people in the UK who will be diagnosed with a lung condition in their lifetime. Here she tells us about her staggering diagnosis of tuberculosis and her fundraising journey.