Funeral director runs 5K a day for Macmillan cancer

A funeral director has helped raise money for cancer support by running 50km over a period of 10 days. 

Jamie Groves, regional development director of Funeral Partners Greater London South, woke up at 5:30am to run 5km as part of the daily exercise limit imposed by lockdown for 10 days to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. 

Groves said he got in touch with the charity who suggested the 10 Day 5K challenge. He created his fundraising page with a £50 target which was exceeded within an hour, and has now raised nearly £400. 

He said: “Charities such as Macmillan need funding more than ever right now, so we must find ways to energise people to donate while following lockdown rules. 

“I’m obsessed with running and my nan, as well as my wife, told me to take it easy, but to complete Macmillan’s challenge of running 50km across 10 days I had to commit to at least 5km per day before work.”   

Hebe Wright, relationship fundraising manager for London at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “I want to say a huge thank you to Jamie for his enormous achievement of running 50K for Macmillan and all the people with cancer we are able support because of people like him.

“Jamie is an inspiration and beacon of hope in these trying times. Without him and those who donated to his run, we simply would not be able to do as much for the growing number of people who need us. It’s never been more important as we strive to ensure cancer doesn’t become ‘the Forgotten C’ during the Covid pandemic.”