Hannah Bentham celebrated a major achievement by completing the Manchester Marathon, a feat that seemed impossible just a year ago when she could barely run. The HR advisor at East Cheshire Hospice enjoyed the event so much that she felt envious of runners in the London marathon a week later.
From Couch to Marathon
Like many enthusiasts, Hannah started with a couch-to-5k program. She continued training and finished a Cheshire half marathon in March before tackling the full 26.2 miles. Her efforts raised £1,135 for the Hospice, where she has worked for three years, and £520 for Stable Minds charity.
Family Support
Husband Tom and daughters Olivia (seven) and Emily (four) cheered her on among a field of 42,000 runners. Hannah said: "I had signed up to run last year’s marathon but deferred it because I hadn’t done any training. I’d underestimated the commitment needed. Working at the Hospice you see the challenges faced by patients and their families, and that inspired me to take part."
She added: "Running a marathon is nothing compared to what they go through. The support was fantastic and spectators pushed me along."
Previous Fundraising
Tom and his brother George raised more than £7,500 for the Hospice three years ago in memory of their father Mark, a Hospice patient. They paddled from the Irish Coast to the North Sea in a canoe, covering 195 miles.
Hannah has no immediate plans to run another marathon due to work and family commitments. However, her journey from couch to marathon finish line serves as an inspiration to many.
