Wisbech Driving Instructor takes on London Marathon in memory of his Mum

As a driving school instructor, based in Wisbech in Cambridgeshire, Craig Brown is more comfortable on four wheels than a pair of trainers. He explains why he took the brave decision to take part in the London Marathon on Sunday 27 April:

“Our family was perfect! Gary, Kay, Craig and Kealeigh to start with, then growing to include James and of course Kai and Ava! Life was amazing! We spent so many amazing times all together; whether that was having one of mums famous roasts or her incredible scones, days out or time away! Whatever we did, we did it together.

In 2022, Mum began to have some health problems effecting many different aspects of hers and Dad’s life! These problems developed at an incredible rate until on the 14th of July 2022 Mum was diagnosed with CJD Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. This is a rare prion disease that many people have never heard of but that was now our family’s reality!

After a short time in hospital mum came home and that’s where our relationship with Arthur Rank Hospice Charity began. The Charity provided the most amazing palliative care to my Mum. Not only was that so important for her but also it helped us as a family be able to spend every possible second with her in the comfort of the family home. Every day for three weeks the ladies from the Hospice at Home Team came to see my Mum. They always had time to chat to us and even used to put my Mum’s favourite perfume on for her too. Without these amazing people our last weeks with mum wouldn’t of been as peaceful and easy.

On the 6th of August 2022, Mum peacefully passed away with her family around her. So, I ran the London Marathon in her name. Over the past two years since she has been gone, there have been so many times I needed one of Mum’s hugs or chats to make me realize that hard times are temporary. We just have to accept, adapt and overcome. To be completely honest I would run to the ends of the earth to have her back but seeing as that’s not possible, raising as much as I can for this amazing cause is my goal!

As with everything we do in the name of our Mum, this was a family effort. So, I may have been the one running the marathon but my family were right there with me every step of the way!

There will never be enough we can do to say thank you [to Arthur Rank Hospice Charity] but if we can help to ensure these amazing people are still able to provide the best possible care for people and their families then I will do whatever I can.”

If you would like to donate to Craig’s sponsorship page please visit: https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/craig-brown