A GROUP of runners are hoping to raise £50,000 for charity by taking part in the London Marathon, in memory of local lad Ben Crutchley.
Calling themselves ‘Benny Boy’s London Marathon Heroes’, the team, made up of Ben’s father Nige Crutchley and friends Emily Brown, Rupert Potts, and Colin Coward, will tackle their challenge later this month on Sunday 22nd April.
Currently hard in training, the team has clocked up over 2,000 miles between them in preparation for the big day. For team members, Emily, Rupert and Colin this is their first marathon, but Nige has already completed two London Marathons before.
The team is hoping to raise £50,000 for CLIC Sargent, the charity that supported the Crutchleys when their son Ben was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 2011. Ben, died in 2012 aged 9 years.
Following his death, Ben’s family, who live in Newbury near Frome, pledged to raise £1million for the charity. So far they have raised nearly £400,000.
“Ben will always be our youngest son, a happy, healthy, fun loving boy and best friends with his elder brother, Luke,” said Nige.
“After Ben was diagnosed and started treatment, we met CLIC Sargent nurses Sally and Ally, who provided us with so much more than just medical advice. They guided us through how we told Ben’s older brother Luke about what was happening, explained to us about the effects of radio and chemotherapy, helped us to navigate the never-ending NHS maze and supported us through some of the darkest hours anyone can imagine. But most importantly of all, they were there for Ben.
“It was thanks to Sally and Ally that Ben was able to have blood tests and much of his treatment at home, rather than in hospital. It was also thanks to Sally and Ally that Ben understood and wasn’t scared of any of the treatment that he was given; they were always honest, but they always cared about and intuitively knew how precious and desperately ill our little boy was.
“When we were told by the doctors that nothing more could be done for Ben, Sally and Ally stepped up their support even further. With their help, Ben remained at home until he passed away peacefully in our arms on 23rd February 2012, surrounded by those who loved him most.
“They are still there for us now, over six years since we lost Ben, just making sure that we are doing OK and helping us with each stage of what, at times feels like a never-ending wave of grief.
“Lots of children do recover from cancer but some, like Ben, don’t. Eleven families each day in the UK are told that their child has cancer – that’s 11 more families like mine who will desperately need the help of CLIC Sargent.”
To support the ‘Benny Boy’s’ you can make a donation at: www.justgiving. com/companyteams/London Marthon2018
