My grandmother is Silvia Saunders, and she lives on Isaac Household in Hammerson House. She has been a Resident for the past  three years and absolutely loves it. She has made many friends and takes full advantage of the wide range of activities on offer. She always seems to be so busy here-it’s wonderful to see.

This is my second marathon. My first was the virtual marathon during the Covid lockdown in 2020, where I ran from Leamington Spa to the University of Warwick campus. My friends joined me at the start, but I completed the last 10 kilometres alone. So, I am really excited to take part in a real marathon surrounded by lots of other runners.

I chose to run in support of Nightingale Hammerson because I can see how special Hammerson House is. Compared to other care homes I’ve visited, it stands out for its warmth, vibrancy and friendly atmosphere. The Residents are empowered to make their own choices. Even  though they live in a care home, life certainly doesn’t stop. They continue to meet new people, discover new interests and enjoy their time here.

Initially there were only a few spaces to run for Nightingale Hammerson but in late February, one of the other runners had an injury and had to withdraw from the run. I was lucky enough to step in. I have only been training for the last 8 weeks but as I ran a half marathon in March, I consider that as my training and I’m as ready as one can be. I have raised over £2000 in a short amount of time and I’m proud to be supporting such an incredible organisation. It means a lot to give back to the home that gives my grandmother and so many others such a high quality of life.