Six years after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, 30-year-old Jack Gallagher crossed the finish line at one of the world’s most iconic races, raising a wonderful £1,402 for Foyle Hospice, a charity which cared for his late aunt, Jean Gallagher.

He explained: “I enjoyed the London Marathon, even though it was brutally hard. The atmosphere over there was unbelievable and it was an amazing experience, but it was definitely one of the toughest things I’ve ever done.”

Jack went on to explain his link to the Foyle Hospice which began through his beloved Aunt who spent time as an inpatient before her death in 2014.

He continued: “Even though it was an incredibly difficult time for the family, the care and dignity she received there meant a lot to us. It was an amazing facility for end-of-life care, and that stayed with me over the years.
“That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to raise money for the hospice — to help other families who may be going through the same thing.”

Jack also stressed how important he feels the hospice is for local families saying: “As someone from Derry, I think it’s incredibly important to support a local facility that means so much to people in our community. It provides such a high level of care and dignity to patients and families during some of the hardest moments they will ever face.  Thankfully, even though I experienced cancer myself, I haven’t had too much direct experience with end-of-life care, but seeing what the hospice did for my aunt and our family showed me how important places like this are.
“Anything that helps provide comfort, care and support to people going through those moments is worth supporting.”

The London Marathon runner also spoke openly about his own cancer journey, revealing he spent around eight months undergoing treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma before thankfully receiving the all clear. Following treatment, he turned to fitness as part of his recovery — despite never previously considering himself a runner.

Jack explained: “I started off doing small 5Ks and gradually built things up over time.
“What started out as a 5K eventually became a 10K, then a 10-mile race, then half marathons, and finally the full marathon.”

Jack said his own experience with cancer and seeing the support charities provide has always motivated him to give back through fundraising.

He continued: “Because I was only 24 when I was diagnosed with cancer, charities like the Children’s Cancer Fund helped me a lot during that time, so I’ve always wanted to give something back.”

He also believes fundraising is vital to ensure services like Foyle Hospice continue to support local families.

Jack said: “I honestly don’t think the community could cope without Foyle Hospice.
“Facilities like the Altnagelvin Cancer Centre are absolutely incredible and the staff there do amazing work, but hospices provide something very different when it comes to palliative and end-of-life care.
“They give families comfort, privacy, dignity and support during incredibly emotional times. Hospitals are under huge pressure and are constantly busy, so having a dedicated place like the Foyle Hospice where families can come together in a more peaceful environment is so important.
“That’s why fundraising is vital — to make sure those services continue to be there for the people who need them most.”

Now, after completing the London Marathon, Jack hopes his story might encourage others to take on their own challenges and fundraisers.

He concluded: “One thing I’d say is that I was never a runner before any of this happened. If I can go from struggling through a 5K after cancer treatment to eventually completing the London Marathon, then anyone can achieve things they never thought possible.”

If you are interested in joining the Foyle Hospice Marathon Team or running in support of Foyle Hospice, please email: noel@foylehospice.com or call the Fundraising Office on: 02871 359 888.