Spencer Baylis was joined by 12 friends and family members to take on the Coventry Half Marathon, raising funds for The Myton Hospices in memory of his wife, Andrea.
Andrea was cared for at our Coventry Myton Hospice in December 2025 after being diagnosed with cancer. She died aged just 54.
Following her death, Spencer and their sons volunteered with our Christmas Tree Collection in January. Spencer said:
Volunteering gave us a way to grieve whilst doing something positive. It was incredibly heart-warming to give something back, and it left us wanting to do more. We decided to push ourselves and take on a real challenge – and that’s where the idea of the half marathon came in.
After chatting with friends and family at the pub, Spencer was joined by his three sons – Ben, David and Sam – along with a wider group of loved ones. Spencer added:
We never really had a reason to do a run before, until now. I’ve always been active, so I was training every day.
For David, the challenge was entirely new. He said:
I had never run before we signed up. I had 10 weeks to train and get ready, which was gruelling – running in the cold, dark and wet weather. But the day itself was perfect. The crowd was amazing and really got us through it. I think we were smiling the whole way round – the adrenaline kept us going.
Spencer continued:
It started to get difficult down the country lanes, when the crowds disappeared. It felt quite lonely, but I looked up at the sky, put my hand over my heart and that gave me a different kind of motivation. I’m surprised I didn’t cry when we crossed the finish line! It was a perfect day, bringing us all together, and we had no injuries so that’s always a win!
Together, the group raised an incredible £7,934.69 in Andrea’s memory.
Reflecting on their motivation to support Myton, Spencer said:
Myton made Andrea’s last days so comfortable and peaceful. It meant everything that we could be there with family and friends around us. I was also able to stay in the relatives’ accommodation so I could be close to Andrea at all times. It was just so easy, calm and respectful. The staff were all fantastic – how they treated us as family members was amazing. They were constantly checking to make sure I had eaten or slept, as it’s so easy to forget in those moments. They had my back which is something I’ll always appreciate.
David added:
To think the staff care for people and their families all day, every day – it’s astonishing. They’re incredible.
Spencer continued:
You don’t often hear about hospices or realise just how special they are until you need them. Myton made such a horrible time so much easier. If we can help another family going through something similar, that’s incredibly rewarding and humbling.
If you have been inspired to take on a challenge and fundraise for The Myton Hospices, you can find out more online via the link below...
