A former international athlete ran the Leeds Half Marathon earlier this year, raising more than £500 for Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) Charity in memory of her grandad, John Henry Peters.
For Lucy Chappell, 29, from Kirk Sandall, Doncaster, the challenge was about far more than completing 13.1 miles.
She took on the race in honour of her grandad John, who passed away on 6 October 2024 after receiving care at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
Remembering him, Lucy said: “My grandad was such a funny man – a proper Yorkshireman.
“I have so many fantastic memories of him growing up. Trips to my nanna and grandad’s caravan in Filey during the summer holidays, helping him in the garden, and spending Christmases, birthdays and anniversaries together as a family.
“He had a brilliant sense of humour and, while he wasn’t always the loudest person in the room, some of the one-liners he would come out with would have us all belly laughing and in floods of tears.”
John loved his sport, particularly football and golf, and spent much of his spare time at the local bowling club playing bowls in the summer and snooker during the winter.
He was also a keen gardener who grew vegetables at home, including what Lucy remembers as “the best carrots in the world”.
When John became unwell in 2024, he was taken to Doncaster Royal Infirmary by ambulance before later returning home. He was subsequently readmitted and sadly passed away in October.
Throughout that time, Lucy says the care her grandad received never left the family’s thoughts.
She said: “I cannot fault the care that my grandad received throughout his time.
“From the paramedics to the end-of-life care team, everyone did their very best to make him feel comfortable and safe.”
Wanting to thank those who cared for him, Lucy decided to raise money for DBTH Charity by taking on her first ever half marathon.
Despite previously representing England in the Heptathlon and competing at national level, she admits the challenge was daunting.
She said: “When I first started training, I had absolutely no idea how I was going to do anything more than 5km.
“It’s definitely a much different way to train compared to my Heptathlon days.”
Inspired by her boyfriend Matt’s participation in the event the previous year, where he raised money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, and as a passionate Leeds United supporter, Lucy chose the Leeds Half Marathon as the perfect fundraising challenge.
Crossing the finish line was an emotional moment, knowing she was carrying her grandad’s memory with her every step of the way.
Through her efforts, Lucy has raised more than £500 for DBTH Charity, helping to support patients, families and services across Doncaster and Bassetlaw.
About DBTH Charity:
Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals’ Charity is the official charity which supports Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Trust to go above and beyond by providing additional equipment, services and amenities for our patients, visitors and staff which cannot be funded by the NHS alone.
These additional extras would not be possible without the support of our community. With your help, we can continue to work with our Trust to fund innovative and exciting projects that make a difference to our patients, their families and our colleagues who care for them.
Visit the charity website to find out more: https://dbthcharity.co.uk/