It’s one of the most ambitious challenges ever undertaken on behalf of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd – and it won’t be completed until 2026!

Every single day until then, teacher Josh Weller will be running 10km in memory of his cousin Katie Anderson, a hospice patient who passed away earlier this year aged just 38 years.

Josh started his challenge of running 10K each day for 500 consecutive days on 10 April this year and will finally complete the 5,000 kilometre – 3,106 mile marathon on Sunday 23 August 2026!

By then, he hopes to have raised at least £10,000 to support the work of hospice team in caring for patients and families from communities throughout Chester and Ellesmere Port.

What’s more, Josh has signed up to run the Chester Marathon in October to boost his fundraising efforts. The event takes place on 16 November which would have been Katie’s 39th birthday.

“I texted Katie just over a week before she passed away to tell her what I was planning,” Josh, 26 explained.

“I asked her whether there was a particular charity that she wanted the money to go and she unhesitatingly chose the hospice. Katie had been supported for some time by the team at the hospice’s Living Well outpatient centre.”

Josh continued: “There’s no particular significance in running 500 days consecutively – I just felt it was a good number to aim for. I previously ran 5k every day for 496 days in memory of my grandmother.  I thought that this time I would be a bit more ambitious.”

Katie, a telesales manager for Vauxhall, married Rob in November 2019 and the newlyweds settled into their Northwich home, excited for the future. Katie’s mum Jann  lives in Chester.

Just two years later, at the age of 34, Katie was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer. The diagnosis came only after an unlikely twist of fate: a skydive organised by a friend to raise money for breast cancer.

The effort caused Katie’s stomach pain to worsen and spread to her right shoulder. It was this new symptom that led to further tests, ultimately revealing the devastating diagnosis.

Josh continued: “If there were 50 people in a room, it would be Katie who stood out.  She was the brightest star.

“Throughout this ordeal, Katie showed us all what true strength, courage, and determination looks like. She was a beacon of optimism and hope. Every single day, she continued to live her life with amazing positivity, believing she would win.

“We are all incredibly proud of her, not just for how she lived and fought but how open and honest she was, and the way she wants to share her story in a bid to make others aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer and how it doesn’t just affect older people.”

He added: “I’m not particularly looking forward to running every day during the cold and rainy winter months but I’m really proud to be honouring Katie’s memory by supporting the hospice in this way.

“The services provided by the hospice team are so important to so many patients and families. It’s not just pain relief, reassurance and end-of-life care – the therapies, counselling, practical, emotional and spiritual support and advice are all so important to people when they face their ultimate challenge. It’s a privilege to help.”