“In August of 2016, I lost my Mam, Elizabeth Dobell after a difficult battle with cancer. A month before passing, she had asked me to run Manchester Marathon for Alice House to say thank you to all the kind and compassionate staff she had met during her time there. I wasn’t sure if it was the prescription drugs that were speaking as I couldn’t run a mile, had never shown an interest in running, and definitely wasn’t built for running! In truth, I believe there was more than a request in her suggestion, she knew I would need a mechanism to cope with grief, something which would have a positive effect on my mental health.

A few months after she passed, I found the most wonderful bunch of people who, despite having no running experience, welcomed me in and showed faith in my quest. Peterlee Ladies Running Club is made up of people of different running abilities, different ages, different motivations, and different backgrounds and has socialising and improved mental health at the forefront. A Saturday run finished off with a cake and a cuppa is a time for us to get together and check in with each other – it’s a running family who cares. Our club’s head is a very patient and empathetic, Colin Hancock who will back us up on any crazy running ideas. He is the heart of the club and is the one who allows us all to believe in the power of the mind.

Since then, we have run many races together, over various terrains, covering various distances, and collecting medals as we go. On 20th August this year, we will take on our biggest challenge yet. To run 60 miles for my Mam’s 60th to collect the 60th medal. There are three of us running the full 60 miles, myself, Tracey Anderson, and Colin Hancock. However, the nature of our club means we never run alone, and we will be joined throughout the day by a team of 30 plus, who will be running from our running club home at Peterlee Pavilion to join in with some of the 8 planned routes.

Our hope is to raise support for two wonderful charities, Alice House Hospice and The Solan Connor Fawcett Charity Trust so they can continue their remarkable work in supporting people with a cancer diagnosis and bereaved families. The Solan Connor Fawcett Charity Trust is a local charity that strives to give cancer patients control back, offering counselling services, complementary therapies, and beauty and wig services.

From Peterlee Ladies Running Club and Elizabeth’s family, we hope our event goes someway in thanking you all for your amazing work.”

Sarah Barker, July 2022

“We all wish Sarah and her team the best of luck with this mammoth challenge.  This is a lovely gesture in Elizabeth’s memory.  If anyone would like to sponsor Sarah click below here Sponsor Sarah

Janice Forbes, Community Fundraiser at Alice House Hospice