BBC Radio 5 Live presenter, Eleanor Oldroyd and one of her best friends, Midlands Today star, Mary Rhodes are putting on their running vests to raise money for the Hospice which cared for Eleanor’s dad Colin Oldroyd, who was the Rector of Ledbury before retiring to live in Tupsley in Hereford in 1995.

Eleanor said, ‘Dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2012, just after the Olympic games. He was admitted to St Michael’s Hospice at the beginning of February 2015. He had a famous sense of humour and the nurses enjoyed his jokes and talking to him about his love of cricket. The care they gave couldn’t have been better, and they even helped make it possible for dad to be at home for his birthday on the 14th February.’

Eleanor and Mary will be running with Eleanor’s brothers Andrew and Martin and her 15-year old daughter Erin.

Eleanor said, ‘The quality of the time we spent with dad at St Michael’s was so special and his last week was one that we will all never forget. We felt privileged to be at the Hospice and when we learned about the humanity behind the charitable donations that help fund the Hospice we wanted to do our bit.’

This year Eleanor won the Sports Journalists’ Association Awards, Sports Presenter of the Year award, something her dad would have been very proud of her. ‘Dad managed to get tickets to go to a test match in 1977. He wrote a letter to my headmistress saying I wanted to be the first female cricket correspondent for the Times. I don’t think I had said anything of the sort, but it gave me the idea of having a career as a sports journalist. Running the race is going to be physically painful but also very emotional when we cross the finish line. The week we spent at Dad’s bedside at St Michael’s brought us all closer as a family, and it will be wonderful to be able to share such a special day with each other.’

Eleanor and her family have raised over £1,200 for St Michael’s Hospice and hope the run helps to raise a lot more.

If you would like to join Eleanor and take part in the Hereford Half Marathon, 10K or 5K events there is still plenty of time to enter by visiting www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk or by calling the St Michael’s Hospice Events Team on 01432 851000.

This year everyone who raises over £30 in sponsorship will receive a beautiful St Michael’s Hospice Superhero mug.

Photo: L:r Eleanor Oldroyd, Mary Rhodes (on TV) and Erin at mums home in Tupsley Hereford.