0116 258 8709
uhl-tr.lhcharitymailbox@nhs.net
Thousands of runners will take part in this weekend’s TCS London Marathon on Sunday 2 October, each with their reason for taking part. For the runners supporting Leicester Hospitals Charity it is their way of giving back to Leicester’s Hospitals.
Alice Billson, Ben Hardy, Chris Packwood, Erol Gaillard, Henry Povos, Joe Hockenhull, Mark Pothecary, Olivia Pugh and Tom Dicicco, have been training intensely to take part in this year’s marathon. All nine supporters will run the scenic 26.2-mile route around London to help raise money for the areas of Leicester’s Hospitals that have impacted their or a family member’s life.
Tom Dicicco an avid runner was keen to take on his biggest challenge – the London Marathon. When the opportunity came to run for Leicester Hospitals Charity, Tom said: “I couldn’t think of a better cause.”
Tom’s son Lorenzo was born in January 2019 at Leicester General Hospital, at only one day old Lorenzo had an undiagnosed diaphragmatic hernia, he was critically ill and required urgent specialist treatment.
Lorenzo was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) to get a life-saving operation. Not knowing if he would even survive the ambulance journey there, Tom and his wife waited anxiously by their baby son’s incubator.
Tom remembers what he was thinking at the time: “Sitting by Lorenzo’s incubator I vowed to give something back to the hospital when the time was right.”
So this year Tom is completing the marathon to give thanks to all the wonderful staff who supported him and his wife, he continued to say: “If it wasn’t for the incredible staff at LRI, working day and night to save our little boy, he wouldn’t be with us today. He is now a thriving happy three-year-old.”
So far all nine runners have raised an amazing £15,000 for Leicester’s Hospitals. If you would like to support your local hospital and would like a slot for next year’s London Marathon please get in touch with the Leicester Hospitals Charity Team on 0116 2258 8709 or email: uhl-tr.lhcharitymailbox@nhs.net.