Running the London Marathon for Saint Francis Hospice
Primary school teacher Gabrielle Kayler is running the London Marathon in honour of her dad Eddie Kayler who was cared for by Saint Francis Hospice in 2023. Here Gabrielle shares her story...
Saint Francis Hospice is a place that means more to me than words can truly express. My dad spent the last 20 weeks of his life there, being cared for with such compassion, dignity, and love.
He passed away on May 27th, 2023, and those final weeks, though incredibly difficult, were made so much more bearable because of the incredible care and kindness of the hospice team.
Saint Francis Hospice didn’t just look after my dad; they cared for our entire family. They gave us time to focus on being together, to laugh when we could, to cry when we needed to, and to say our goodbyes in a way that felt peaceful. They treated my dad not just as a patient but as a person—a father, a husband, and a man who was deeply loved.
Running the London Marathon is my way of saying thank you to them. It’s my way of honouring my dad and everything he went through with courage and grace. I want to make him proud, just as he always made me proud. And I want to ensure that Saint Francis Hospice can continue to offer the same comfort, care, and dignity to other families facing the hardest times of their lives.
I’ve never done anything like this before — so it’s a huge step out of my comfort zone. I do enjoy running shorter distances; they’re fun and give me a nice break from everyday life. But I’ve found longer runs to be such a mental challenge, not just physical. That’s exactly why I’m doing this marathon—to push myself and prove how strong I can be.
My training is going well so far! I’ve been making sure to get out at least three times a week, even when it’s freezing and icy outside. It hasn’t been easy in this weather, but I keep reminding myself of why I’m doing this, and that keeps me motivated. I also feel so lucky to have the support of the amazing Saint Francis Hospice team who are running with me and the support group is wonderful- they’ve been a big inspiration.
I’m looking forward to race day so much! The moment I cross that finish line is going to be incredibly emotional because I know I’ll be doing it for my dad and making him proud and to honour the hospice who make such a difference to people’s lives.
The atmosphere is something I can’t wait to experience—everyone cheering and supporting each other. I’m also excited to see how far I can push myself and prove that I’m capable of something I never thought possible.
Every step I take on that 26.2-mile journey will be for my dad, for his memory, and for the amazing people who made such a difference in his final days.
Fundraising has definitely been a challenge, but it’s also been so heartwarming. Knowing that I’m helping them continue their incredible work keeps me going. People have been so generous and supportive, which has meant the world to me.
I’m also really excited about the evening event I’m hosting—it’ll be such a special way to bring together everyone who has supported me and who loved my dad. It’s going to be an emotional but beautiful celebration of everything this journey stands for.
