Newbury woman Victoria Gill, 42, is running the London Marathon in memory of her mother Margaret who died when she was three years old
A Newbury woman is running the London Marathon to raise money for a children’s bereavement charity after she lost her mother when she was just three years old.
Victoria Gill, 42, only took up running a year-and-a-half ago but she said she was “really excited” to take on the 26.2-mile challenge in the capital at the end of next month.
Victoria, who works at Vision Express in Northbrook Street, lost her mother Margaret when she died suddenly from a heart attack in September 1986.
Victoria will be running the London Marathon in her mother’s memory, as well as to raise money for Daisy’s Dream, a Reading-based charity that supports children and young people through bereavement.
Victoria said: “I didn’t use Daisy’s Dream myself because the charity didn’t exist.
“I am very pleased that children today who have also lost a parent have Daisy’s Dream to offer them support.
“I like the way that children can meet up with other children who are in the same situation.
“I think that is something that I would have found helpful when I lost my mum.
“I am so happy and motivated to know that the money I raise will be used for such an amazing things.”
She is currently running 30km stints around Wash Common and Greenham Common in preparation and is slowly working up to the 42km marathon distance in time for the big race on Sunday, April 27.
Victoria said that her mother Margaret would be at the forefront of her mind when taking on the famous marathon route.
She said: “I don’t have many memories of my mum, only what I have been told by my family and have seen in photographs. I would love to have the chance to have known my mum.
“However, I am also very lucky because I have a wonderful step mum and half sister.”
To donate to Victoria’s Daisy’s Dream fundraiser, visit https://rebrand.ly/8e0e5e
As of Friday, March 21, she had already raised over £2,157 for the charity, beating her £2,000 fundraising target.
