Single mum of five raises over £675 from virtual London Marathon

Juliet Fisher has had a turbulent few years but she has remained positive throughout her difficulties.

The loss of her business through the pandemic and the parting from her husband back in 2014 has led to her becoming a single mum to her five children.

She also had to suffer the distress of losing her brother.

But it hasn’t stopped her from looking on the “bright side” and she has now taken part in the virtual London Marathon raising a total of £675.52 for the hospital where she works.

She ran the 26.2 mile distance in a time of four hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds which took her out to Lackford from her home in Bury St Edmunds, past the Highwayman Guest House, in Risby, which she had to close last year after operating it for 14 years, and back and round into parts of Bury.

Her son Noah, 14, cycled with her for part of the route and her two-and-a-half-year-old Labrador retriever Hope also accompanied her.

Juliet, who works in the HR department for the West Suffolk Professionals at the West Suffolk Hospital, said she wanted to help repay the hospital and community nursing team for the care and attention she received when she gave birth to her children.

Patrick, now 17 and Theo, 16, were water born babies at the West Suffolk, while Noah, Casper, 12 and Meralina, 11, were all born under the same circumstances, but at home.

“Since starting at the hospital I have felt so welcomed and part of an amazing team under a lot of pressure with the demands and changes and processes within the health service.

“Keeping up with the amazing ‘famous five’ children this year I thought it would be brilliant to run the marathon for the My WiSH Charity.

“Nobody has escaped the Covid crisis, however, I really wanted to express my sincere thanks to the West Suffolk and raise some funds. The staff have always been astoundingly helpful, engaging and reassuring.”

The charity, which supports the work of the hospital and the teams out in the community, has been asked by Juliet to direct the money towards the midwifery team.

Juliet added: “I am always training for something and I wanted to raise the money to say thank you to the midwifery team.

“I think we need some positive stories out there and I think we need to give out a message that life is still going on.”

Sally Daniels, fundraising manager said “Juliet is amazing. She’s had such a lot going on but has still managed to train for a full marathon. It’s lovely when staff want to support us as they really know the difference these donations make. The maternity team work so hard and it’s lovely that Juliet wanted to give something back”.

Written by Russell Cook for My WiSH Charity

Main photo: Pictured with her cheque for £675.52 for the My WiSH Charity is Juliet Fisher and her children Patrick, Meralina, Caspar, Noah and Theo.