A palliative care consultant will be running in the Virgin Money London Marathon to raise funds for a local hospice in Wirral.

Dr Richard Latten will be raising money for Wirral Hospice St John’s as he takes on the 26-mile challenge on Sunday, October 3, 2021.

Richard, who works at the hospice, has been training around Wirral’s landmarks preparing hard for the gruelling challenge which awaits him.

Richard tells the Globe: “Before a couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have stood a chance of completing a marathon.

“Back in 2019 I was finding things really tough with the challenges that work in our field can sometimes bring to the surface while also dealing with a bereavement a few years before which had had an emotional impact on my own family.”

Wirral Globe:

There was a hiatus for London’s 2020 marathon as thousands of entrants were redirected and encouraged, under coronavirus regulations, to complete their challenges closer to home and without the cheers of the traditional crowds to keep them going.

For Richard, this year’s race will see him reach another milestone in his own personal journey.

He says running has only really become a part of his regular exercise over the last couple of years.

Back in 2019 Richard joined some of his Wirral Hospice St John’s colleagues in the Birkenhead ParkRun, a free weekly 5k fun run around Birkenhead Park for people of all abilities.

Now, from having to stop every few hundred yards for a breath and a walk, Richard says he’s confident he’ll finish the marathon, even if it’s not in a world record time.

Richard said: “Joining some of my hospice colleagues, friends and family, in running in our local Parkrun was the turning point in getting myself back on track.

“Since that pivotal moment, my running and my mind have improved in parallel.

Wirral Globe:

“From staggering round that first 5km in Birkenhead Park, I’ve gradually increased my running distance, doing hospice events, the ‘Mucky Mudder 5K’ in 2019 and then ‘Race around the Wirral’ with some colleagues and friends during last year’s lockdown.

“The hospice is close to my heart for many reasons.

“It’s a privilege to work alongside some really wonderful colleagues, all focused on providing the best possible care and support for patients and their families who are going through their own challenging circumstances.

“As a charity, the hospice can only continue to provide its vital services to patients and their families through the kind generosity of our whole Wirral community.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to run the London Marathon for the hospice and hopefully raise some vital funds.

“I’m looking forward to proudly wearing my hospice t-shirt running around the streets of London.”

If you’d like to support Richard’s Virgin Money London Marathon effort click here.