Charity fundraiser plans to enjoy her ninth and final race through London

A WOMAN from Henley is to take part in the London Marathon for the last time after years of raising money for charity.

Kelly Hargreaves, 57, of Newtown Gardens, has participated in the
26-mile run eight times since 2013 but says this year will be the final time.

The hairdresser will be joined by husband Ian, 60, a landscape gardener, who has previously taken part five times, and her daughter Millie and her boyfriend Tom Gregory, both 23, who will be making their race debuts.

Mr and Mrs Hargreaves have raised more than £25,000 for charity over the years and this year will be running for MACs, which supports people with anophthalmia (no eyes), microphthalmia (small eyes) and coloboma (a cleft in the eye).

Mrs Hargreaves, who is a breast cancer survivor, said: “This is definitely my last marathon. I have had so many injuries, even with physio, and I’m having terrible problems with my knee.

“Ian and I just want to get around and enjoy it. We just want to hold back and take in the atmosphere.”

Her best ever time is four hours and 44 minutes, which she achieved two years in a row.

She said that running had been important to her.

“It’s good for my mental health, keeping fit and keeping my weight down — and there is something really addictive about it,” she said. “I will really miss it.

“The marathon is a very emotional event as everyone is running for a reason, something very close to them.

“I will probably cry beforehand and at the end and probably halfway around too. I am nervous but I have made up my mind to go and enjoy it and I am honoured that Millie and Tom want to run it as well. It will be great to do it as a family.

“Millie and Tom are both personal trainers, so they are extremely fit. They have trained really hard. I am very competitive but there is no way in a million years I will be keeping up with the two of them.

“Millie says there is no way she will do it again but I said that after my first one.”

Mrs Hargreaves first ran the London Marathon for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation after her nephew Harry was diagnosed with the condition.

She said: “He was staying with me when he was first taken ill and that's what got me running.”

To make a donation, visit https://2024
tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/
kelly-hargreaves