A brother and sister from Essex are set to take on the iconic London Marathon this spring, running side by side in memory of their much-loved grandad to raise vital funds for Havens Hospices.

Jake Arnold-Gregory, aged 34, and his sister Hannah Arnold, aged 20, will join thousands of runners at the start line in April, inspired by the care Michael received from Fair Havens at the end of his life in October 2024.

Fair Havens provides specialist care and support for adults in Southend, Rochford and Castle Point living with complex or incurable conditions, offering expert, compassionate care and support at the end of life.

“We chose to run the London Marathon for Havens Hospices after everything they did for our Grandad and our family,” they said. “We want to be able to give back to an amazing charity and allow others to receive the same care that he did. We were so happy to get accepted to do this in his honour and complete this incredible achievement together.”

“They didn’t just care for him — they cared for all of us,” they said. “They allowed us to focus on being a family, on spending those precious last moments together. They truly could not have done more, and we will forever be thankful for everything they did.”

Training for their first marathon has been a challenge, as they balance their preparation with full-time jobs. “We had a few little aches and pains to begin with, but our bodies have started getting used to the training now. We’re pushing through together as we know how lucky we are to be doing this for such an amazing cause.”

On race day, it’s the atmosphere they’re most looking forward to. “The crowd is going to be such a big help and will give us the boost we need — and we’re even more grateful that we’ll be running alongside each other. It is definitely nerve-wracking, but once we get started and remember the reason why, we’ll be over the finish line in no time.”

For Jake and Hannah, every donation carries special meaning. “It would mean the absolute world to us to hit our targets — and to smash them would be even better. Every penny we can raise for Havens Hospices means so much, knowing that another patient is getting the same care our Grandad did makes it all worthwhile.”

By taking on 26.2 miles together, the brother and sister hope to honour their grandad’s memory while helping other families receive the same compassionate, specialist care Michael needed. To sponsor Jake and Hannah and support their fundraising efforts, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/jakearnoldgregory and https://www.justgiving.com/page/hannah-arnold-london-marathon-26

Published 9th March 2026