Taking on the London Marathon for Wakefield Hospice

A Longstanding Connection

Wakefield Hospice has long been part of the fabric of the local community, providing specialist care and support to patients and families across the region.

Lord St Oswald and his family have supported the Hospice for more than 40 years. Fundraising events have taken place here at Nostell across generations, with each generation continuing that commitment to community care.

“I’m delighted that Peter and his son Thomas are going to compete in the 2026 London Marathon, all in aid of Wakefield Hospice,” says Lord St Oswald. “It’s a charity very close to my heart.”

Over the years, Lord St Oswald has undertaken a number of personal challenges in support of charitable causes, from cycling across Death Valley to trekking up Everest and even skydiving. Still, the connection to Wakefield Hospice has remained constant.

Why Fundraising Matters

The scale of the Hospice’s work is significant.

Alex Kuniff, Events Fundraiser at Wakefield Hospice, explains:

“It costs around £6 million a year to run the Hospice. Around 25% is government funded, but 75% comes from fundraising, from events, community support, corporate and individual giving, retail, in-memory donations and legacies.”

Fundraising initiatives like Peter’s marathon effort are vital in ensuring the Hospice can continue to provide end-of-life care, symptom management, bereavement and family support, dementia day care and complementary therapies.

Every mile run in London will contribute towards sustaining that care here at home.

Preparing for the marathon

Training for a marathon requires consistency and patience.

“The biggest challenge is really committing the time to the training”, Peter says. “Touch wood, I’ve been relatively free of aches and pains, but I’ve got to be careful as I increase the miles, not to pick up an injury. But it’s going very well.”

With each additional mile logged in training, the starting line in London draws closer.

Running Together

Running the London Marathon alongside his son Thomas has added another dimension to the challenge.

“Running with Thomas is so fantastic, and he is such a good runner,” Peter says. “He liked the idea of us running together for the whole route, but we quickly realised with his youth and long legs that wasn’t going to happen!”

While they may not be side by side for every mile, the shared commitment to taking on 26.2 miles on the same day makes the experience all the more meaningful. Even if their pace differs on the course, they will take on the challenge together, each running their own race but united in purpose. Crossing the finish line and celebrating the achievement side by side will mark not just a completion of the London Marathon, but a challenge shared.

The Reality of Training

Training for a marathon demands consistency, patience and, at times, restraint.

“Training has been really hard, and you have to commit,” Peter says. “I pushed myself too hard recently and suffered a small injury. At my age, I need to listen carefully if my body starts complaining!”

Balancing ambition with experience has become part of the process. Building up the miles steadily, allowing time for recovery and knowing when to ease back are all essential in preparing for things. The discipline required off the course is just as important as the determination shown on it.

A Community Effort

Support has already begun to gather momentum. In the weeks and months ahead, we will be keeping everyone updated on Peter’s training and progress as the London Marathon approaches. Please watch out for regular updates across our social channels as he continues his build-up to running the full 26.2 miles.

“People have already been very generous,” Peter says. “It’s a very worthy cause, and I hope people will continue to donate so we can raise as much as possible for Wakefield Hospice.”

On marathon day, the run will stretch from Greenwich to The Mall. But for Peter and Thomas, the distance represents something much closer to home.

Lord St Oswald will be there at the finish line to welcome them back.

“I’ll be at the finishing line to congratulate them and thank them.”