A team of 12 runners - including one from Thaxted - crossed the finish line at the London Marathon in aid of St Clare Hospice.

The team, which included 35-year-old Thaxted resident Joe Stapleton, raised a combined total of more than £26,000 for the hospice.

Joe completed the marathon in three hours and four minutes - the fastest time of the whole team.

On his JustGiving page, he explained: "St Clare Hospice provided a support network to my mum as she tackled the day-to-day grief when we lost my dad in early 2021, so it's a charity very close to my heart."

Joe previously competed in the Paris Marathon in 2021 to support the hospice, and started the year with 16 weeks of training so he could prepare to tackle London.

He achieved his goal of completing the London Marathon in under three hours and five minutes, therefore qualifying for the Boston Marathon.

The money Joe and his fellow runners raised is enough to fund more than 12 days of the entire Hospice at Home service, which offers vital care to families in the comfort of their own home.

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Ellie Gale, St Clare Hospice's relationship fundraising manager, said: "We went out and cheered on our runners from the side-lines, and not only did they have to tackle 26.2 miles, they did it all running through the elements and pouring rain!

"We couldn’t be more proud and grateful for the effort that each and every one of them has put in.

"£26,000 is an incredible amount to have raised, and will make such a difference to local families facing one of life’s hardest journeys, who need our support.

"Thank you, Team St Clare!"

St Clare Hospice provides support and free, compassionate care to hundreds of adults with life-limiting illnesses, their families and carers in West Essex and the East Hertfordshire border.

To continue to support Joe's fundraiser, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Joe-Stapleton4.

Anyone who missed out on the London Marathon is invited to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon this October in aid of St Clare.

For more information go to https://stclarehospice.org.uk/event/royal-parks-half-marathon/.