In a heartfelt tribute to her late husband, Laura Coleman-Day of Lincolnshire celebrated her wedding anniversary by running the London Marathon wearing her wedding dress. This profound gesture forms a part of her ambitious plan to complete 13 marathons in 12 months with the aim of raising substantial funds for blood cancer research via the Anthony Nolan charity. She was accompanied by her friend, Kate Walford from Guernsey, who is running in memory of a childhood friend, and together they showcased extraordinary resilience and camaraderie.
The poignant high point took place at the 23-mile mark. It was here that Mrs Coleman-Day, dressed in her wedding attire, honoured her late husband’s memory. She spoke of the experience as ‘absolutely amazing’, regardless of the heat. She gave credit to the encouragement of the crowd and the unyielding support of her running mate for making the journey unforgettable. Her husband, Xander, tragically died from complications that followed a fight against acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Mrs Walford, who ran the marathon in memory of her late friend Mark, shared the deep impact of the day. She revealed that seeing Laura dressed in her wedding gown was an intensely emotive moment. Both women completed their marathon journey side by side, drawing strength and motivation from their fellow runners and the cheering spectators. Their collective tribute to Xander and Mark will be remembered as a poignant victory.
This article is based on original reporting provided by www.bbc.com, as adapted by The Lincoln Post.
