Two Rochdale runners are preparing to cover 246 miles in six days in memory of a father whose final night was spent at Springhill Hospice.
Alex Haddock and his friend James will set off from Springhill Hospice on Tuesday 21 April 2026, running around 220 miles over five days to reach London before taking on the 2026 London Marathon the following morning.
The challenge will see them pass through Buxton, Ashbourne, Hinckley, Old Stratford and Greenwich before lining up at the start of the capital’s most famous race. In total, they expect to run 246 miles in six days.
They hope to raise £26,000 for Springhill Hospice, which provides specialist palliative and end of life care for people across Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton.
The cause is deeply personal for Alex. His dad, Darren, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2012 at the age of 45. He lived with the condition for eight years before being admitted to Springhill Hospice in January 2020. He died on 23 January 2020 after spending one night there.
Alex said,
“I don’t know what we would have done without Springhill Hospice. The care given to my dad and our family was incredible, which made the most traumatic time of our lives that bit easier. Springhill Hospice is a pillar of our community and we need to do everything we can to keep the doors open”.
Springhill Hospice costs more than £4 million a year to run and relies heavily on charitable donations to continue its services, including its 16 bed inpatient unit, Hospice at Home support and community palliative care.
In February 2024, Alex joined the hospice as Head of Income Generation and Marketing, overseeing retail, fundraising and marketing activity with the aim of helping secure its long term future.
Hospices across the country have warned of mounting financial pressures, with some forced to reduce services. Alex and James say they want their run to highlight the importance of protecting local hospice care and to encourage the community to support it.
Donations to their fundraiser will go directly towards Springhill Hospice’s work supporting patients and families facing life limiting illness.
Donate here: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/alex-haddock
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