Banburyshire woman completes Local Landmarks Challenge in memory of close friend

Melanie Cox, who trained for the challenge while working as a midwife during lockdown, ran her half marathon on Friday June 5 with an assist from her husband, Jamie Cox, who mapped out her route.

The route for the 13.3-mile run will start in her home village of Adderbury and travel through Bodicote and Easington then through the Banbury town centre and back to Adderbury.

Melanie finished her challenge in 3 hours and 19 minutes, which beat her target time of 3 hours and 30 minutes. At the end she collected and proudly wore some hand-made medals from her friends.

Melanie ran the half marathon in memory of her good friend Sarah Graham.

Melanie said: "In 2018 our friends’ world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer. This came completely out of the blue and was ultimately manageable but not treatable.

"Sarah fought valiantly and was supported lovingly by her husband Mark and daughter Lola.

"This was my first experience of cancer of someone so close and I felt helpless watching a family come to terms with the never ending trips to hospital, chemo and scans. As a family they all remained positive throughout.

"During that time I had started running, as inspired by my husband Jamie who has since run three marathons and only been running for three years.

"So far I have managed a couch to 5K, a few park runs and The Mancunian Mile and Alchester 10K.

"I feel the only thing I can do now is to give back something to Sarah and her family. I know she would be chuckling if she knew what I was about to attempt but also be fully supportive.

"Please help me to give something back so others don't suffer the same anguish as Mark, Sarah and Lola."

Melanie launched a Just Giving web page to raise money for the Bowel Cancer UK charity.

She has raised £1,400 passing the £1,000 target for her charity fundraising challenge.

People can contribute to her fundraising challenge through the following Just Giving webpage: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/melanie-cox9Melanie had planned to complete the The London Landmarks Half Marathon, a closed road run through Westminster and the city, on March 29. But the coronavirus has led to the cancellation of the event.

The organisers then suggested anyone who would still like to earn their exclusive LLHM 2020 medal, make the most of their training and continue to support their chosen charity, they created The Local Landmarks Challenge.

The challenge is a solo, virtual run, around your local landmarks. It is open to everyone, with a place in LLHM 2020 or not. Distances over 5k qualify for the challenge and you can run the total distance over multiple runs and multiple days.

The challenge doesn't have to be completed in one go and they encouraged people to continue to fundraise for charity whilst taking part.

Melanie added: "So finally I decided I still wanted to do a half marathon and the map of the route I’ll be taking from 3pm this Friday (today June 5) was kindly created by my husband.

"This is to achieve my first half marathon status for London Local Landmarks challenge which closes its entries on 7th June.

"I owe this to all of those who have sponsored me along the way for Bowel Cancer UK. I am forever grateful and thinking of Sarah will get me round I have no doubt.

"I have some wonderful sponsors since I shared this plan from strangers who have been affected by this nasty disease themselves."