Cheltenham woman living with cancer takes on London Marathon in memory of dear friend

Cheltenham

 Linda Jackson (58) from Cheltenham will be lacing up her trainers for this year’s TCS London Marathon on 27 April to raise vital funds for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice. 

Linda is taking on the incredible challenge in memory of Debbie, a close friend of ten years, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the same time as Linda. Debbie spent her final days receiving care at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice in Cheltenham.

 

 

Joining Linda on this extraordinary sporting journey is her son, David Jackson (23), who has secured a support runner’s place to help his mum achieve her dream of crossing the finish line. Linda continues to live with two Stage 4 cancers but remains determined to push forward.

Linda was first diagnosed with a rare Neuroendocrine tumour - metastatic cancer in 2011, when her children David and Rachel were just 10 and 13, respectively. She shared: “The emotional rollercoaster was relentless - would I see our daughter Rachel, then 13, sit her GCSEs? Would I see Dave start secondary school?”

“During one of my check-ups, I received another devastating diagnosis: primary breast cancer. A mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy followed. That’s when I met Debs. She had breast cancer too, and we kept crossing paths at support talks and chemotherapy sessions.

“Our friendship blossomed - we laughed, we cried, and we shared an unfiltered honesty about our experiences. Whether it was joking about being bald and boobless or FaceTiming each other when we were too ill to meet in person, Debs was my rock.”

 

 

Linda explained what a vital role Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice played in both her and Debbie’s lives: “I had visited the hospice before for palliative care, but when Debs was admitted, I truly saw its magic. We’d sit together, gazing out at the deer and daffodils. It was a place of peace.”

Debbie sadly died in March 2024. Linda reflected: “Losing Debs was devastating. She was a part of my life - my coffee buddy, my walking partner, my support throughout everything. And then came the guilt: why her, and not me?”

Linda’s running journey began in May 2022 after spotting a "5k Your Way" banner, an initiative that partners with parkrun to encourage those affected by cancer to stay active. Fast-forward to July 2023, and Linda had completed over 30 parkruns across the UK, before a CT scan confirmed that the cancer had progressed to her lungs, meaning she became breathless easily and needed medical procedures to manage her symptoms. Undeterred, Linda was determined to continue her running journey, and on 29 March 2025 was delighted to complete her 100th Parkrun – a huge milestone.
 

It was her son David, a post-graduate medical student at Cardiff University, who first applied for a London Marathon place. Linda explained: “As he talked to me more about it, I found myself thinking, ‘If I can do 5K and exercise three times a week, why not set a bigger goal?”

When Linda did not secure a ballot place, she realised how much she wanted it. “I applied for a charity place, choosing organisations that had supported my family. After much thought, I chose Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice as they had taken such good care of Debs - it felt right on so many levels.”

David also missed out on the ballot, but Linda needed a support runner, as her son explained: “Mum’s disabilities aren’t always obvious. Ongoing chemotherapy affects her thinking and processing, making it difficult to think clearly in times of stress. That’s tough when training for a marathon. She also struggles with neuropathy in her feet, so even small things, like cups and bottles along the course, could be a trip hazard due to chemo fog and neuropathy.”

With the backing of her oncologist, Linda secured a supporter’s place, and David stepped up, as Linda shared: “There were assigned runners available, but I wanted someone I trusted by my side. When I asked Dave, our conversation was incredibly moving. ‘I can run a marathon anytime in the future, but I might not get the opportunity to do this with you again,’ he said. ‘We’ll do it together.’”

 

David shared how training for the marathon has given mother and son precious time together: “We talk about university, laugh, and keep each other going. When Mum starts to struggle at the end of a long run, I’m there to keep her moving and the conversation flowing.”

As part of their final training preparations, the duo marked a poignant Mother’s Day by running the Gloucester Half Marathon together. David added: “I don’t know when Mum’s time will come, so I want to make the most of the moments we have together.”

Looking ahead to race day David shared: “When we cross the finish line, I know there will be many emotions. We’re not chasing records - we’re here to make memories. I want Mum to look back and feel proud, to realise she’s capable of more than she ever thought possible.
“This marathon is my way of honouring Mum’s journey and giving back to a charity that has been there for us and for so many others.”

Linda concluded: “My goal is to just cross the finish line, and our success depends on everything aligning on the day. But I’m not stopping at the marathon - I want to keep fundraising and sign up for other events afterwards! Cancer won’t stop me, and I won’t stop either.”

Support Linda and Dave: Linda Jackson is fundraising for Sue Ryder

Want to join Team Sue Ryder in the TCS London Marathon 2026? Register your interest today: TCS London Marathon | Sue Ryder

For more information on Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, visit www.sueryder.org/leckhamptoncourt   

 

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