A team of 21 runners from Essex and North East London took part in the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 24 April and raised and incredible £45,000 for Haven House Children’s Hospice.

The runners braved chilly temperatures as they navigated 26.2 miles of gruelling roads through the capital, setting off from Greenwich Park after a countdown from Major Tim Peake in space at 10am.

The Haven House team consisted of a mixture of local and corporate supporters from Chingford, Highams Park and Harold Wood in North East London and Chigwell, Newhall, Wickford and Woodford Green in Essex.

Among those taking part were Monique Howlett from Wickford, Essex. She completed the marathon in 5hrs 45 mins and raised £2,330 for Haven House – exceeding her target of £2,000. Monique was motivated to fundraise for the hospice after losing her first born child, Cameron, at birth.

Monique said: “I am elated to have reached my target. I had hoped to raise so much more – but there is still time to donate. The funds raised will go towards making a difference to the beautiful children at Haven House in the present and in the future.”

Another person to take part in the London Marathon for Haven House was Dave Smith from South Woodford. He completed the marathon in 4hrs 17mins and raised £2,253 – exceeding his target of £1,500. Dave and his family have supported Haven House for many years and his daughter, Charlotte, previously climbed Mount Snowdown for the hospice in pink high heels, raising almost £5,000 in August 2013.

Dave said: “I’m so blessed to be a parent of two healthy daughters. I remain in awe of the work done at Haven House and the families who depend on it. It’s a place where children who won’t ever have the benefit of becoming parents themselves can be children and not just patients and where respite can be found for the families who haven’t been as lucky as me.”

Mike Palfreman, Chief Executive of Haven House, said: “Our marathon runners have raised an incredible amount for our children and their families. We are so grateful for all of their hard work and they definitely deserve a well earned rest.”

Corporate supporters represented by the Haven House team included Barclays, Financial Ombudsman and Redburn.

To donate to Monique’s fundraising page, please visit www.justgiving.com/Monique-Howlett

To donate to Dave’s marathon effort, please visit our Haven House fundrasiers' page.  

To sign up for a Haven House challenge event, please visit our challenge page.