Children's hospice fundraiser gears up for Windsor Half Marathon

A keen runner has come up with a smart way of increasing his sponsorship money as he fundraises for a new children's hospice.

Richard Holmes, who lived in Black Horse Close, Dedworth, until last year, is planning to raise sponsorship money 'bit by bit' by running a series of 10k races in the lead-up to the Windsor Half Marathon in September.

The 23-year-old is asking friends and colleagues to sponsor him to the tune of £3 for each one.

He said: "That way I hope to raise more without it feeling like a lot of money for people sponsoring me. I have done two races so far, starting off at Dorney Rowing Lake on Easter Sunday."

Richard is running in support of the Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service. The charity is in the middle of a £5m fundraising drive to pay for Berkshire's first children's hospice at Snowball Hill in Woodlands Park, Maidenhead. 

On Sunday, September 28, Richard will join charity founder Fiona Devine herself to run the Windsor Half Marathon in Sir Michael Parkinson's Parky's Pride team. Richard used to live near John and Fiona Devine, who launched the charity in memory of their son Alexander.

The Bracknell resident said: "I heard about it from a neighbour. I had been looking for a cause to support and a children's hospice was a wonderful idea."

Richard is a phlebotomist - a health care scientist who collects blood from patients for laboratory examination. 

He works at hospitals across the area.

Visit justgiving.com/richardholmes23 to support him.

• If you would like to take part in the half marathon sign up by visiting www.runwindsor.com - then contact susiek@alexanderdevine.org to join the Parky's Pride team.

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