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Son Runs London Marathon to Honor Late Father and Dog
21 Apr
Summary
- Neil Howarth runs London Marathon for Marie Curie charity.
- His father died six months after a stroke and cancer diagnosis.
- Charity support helped his mother cope with grief and rebuild confidence.
Neil Howarth will run the TCS London Marathon on Sunday, April 27, 2025, for Marie Curie, the event's charity of the year. This run is a tribute to his father, Peter Howarth, who passed away six months after suffering a stroke and being diagnosed with stage four cancer. The family's life was profoundly altered by Peter's sudden illness and death, especially for Neil's mother, Rosemary.
Rosemary Howarth, 75, received significant support from Marie Curie, which helped her navigate her grief and rebuild her confidence after her husband's passing. Neil noted that this support was instrumental in her regaining independence, enabling her to resume driving and engage with her local community in Portaferry, County Down.
Neil, a software sales director from Greenwich, south-east London, shared that his father, Peter, had retired to Northern Ireland two years prior to his diagnosis, fulfilling his dream of living by the sea. Peter, an IT helpdesk technician, was 63 when he collapsed during a walk with his dog, Molly, in April 2024. Neil's own participation in the London Marathon is inspired by his father, who ran the race 25 years ago.
Neil and his wife, Sadhbh, will run the marathon to raise funds for Marie Curie. Neil mentioned that running has been a therapeutic way for him to process his emotions and give back. He has also met some of the charity's nurses and is inspired by their daily work, considering his fundraising efforts the least he can do.
