Staff from the University of Southampton are raising money in memory of a dear friend and colleague, Laura Lee, who sadly lost her battle with cancer in December 2021, at the age of 30.
Colleagues (past and present) from across the University, Laura's Mum (Sue), brothers (Rob & Alex), Godmother (Jo) and family friend (Kate) are all running a mixture of distances in the ABP Southampton Marathon, aiming to raise over £5,000 for charity.
Laura was just 30 years of age when she sadly passed; she was a beautiful soul, who was caring, gentle, funny and full of sass! Laura loved life, she was a real girly girl who loved a natter and always had time for anyone who needed to lend her ear. She was a shining star, both professionally and personally, and is deeply missed by all that knew and loved her.
The team entry is 30 runners strong, a runner for every year of Laura's life, all attempting to cover a whopping combined distance of 486kilometres (over 300 miles) during the Southampton ABP Marathon on Sunday 2nd of April to raise funds for the amazing charity Victoria's Promise. The charity had been a beacon of light for Laura and her family in their times of need.
Victoria’s Promise supports and empowers young women, and their families, through cancer. The charity was created in memory of Victoria who was tragically taken from her family and friends in 2014 after being fully hospitalised with a rare and very aggressive cancer. During her time at hospital, Victoria promised to go on to use her experiences to inspire and support others going through a similar ordeal. Her passing was felt by all that loved her and the loss impacted so greatly, so deeply, that her family knew they had to direct all of the love coming in for Victoria toward something positive, towards fulfilling her legacy, and uphold the promise she had her family make – to go on and make a difference and ease the journey for other young women diagnosed with cancer.
Thus, Victoria’s Promise was born. A charity dedicated to supporting young women through cancer and beyond.
One way that young women are supported is through the Victoria’s Promise App, a private community app available to women everywhere aged between 18 and 50. The Community App offers the opportunity for young women to meet other women of similar age and similar lifestyle, who understand what they are going through, for friendship and support, so that they feel a community spirit with those on a similar journey to themselves. Currently, the app connects 650 women all over the country.
In person support services are currently available for young women treated at the Basingstoke and North Hants Hospital, Royal County Hants Hospital and Andover Memorial Hospital. These services, which are fully funded and provided by Victoria’s Promise, are critical to the health, physical and mental wellbeing and outcome for women with cancer.
Fundraising and donations towards the efforts of the University of Southampton team in April will go directly to the support and care of young women with cancer both via the App and through the many in person support services.
The University of Southampton team are currently in their training for the event on the 2nd of April, if you would like to support their fundraising challenge please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/laura-lee-runners and to find out more about Victoria’s Promise please visit: www.victoriaspromise.org
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