Team Devine complete Windsor Half Marathon

Fiona Devine, CEO and Co-founder of Alexander Devine, was one of 22 runners who took on the challenge on Sunday 29 September in Windsor Great Park to raise money for our children’s hospice service. Despite battling an injury, she completed the course encouraged and supported all the way by her running partner James Parkinson, grandson of our founder patron, Sir Michael Parkinson. James, who runs JMP Fitness, also helped Fiona and community fundraiser, Julia Philipson, train for the event.

Commenting on the training and day itself, Fiona said:

“As my lovely running buddy Julia often quoted on our early morning runs, “it’s not the destination it’s the journey” and how right she was. 

We were so fortunate to do much of our training in and around our hospice neighbourhood, noticing many beautiful runs through the 123 acreage of Ockwells Park and discovering the ancient and tranquil nature reserve it also hosts.  We saw many wonderful things including a flutist, tank, peacock and deer, snowdrops, a peacock, a tank, poppies, a flautist, vintage airplanes, blackberries, a nun, fields of corn and so much more.

Our weekend training was in Windsor Great Park and the home of the Windsor half marathon.  A stunning location and a challenging course, there are a few testing hills and some that sneak right up on you!  We always felt so humbled to watch the red deer and the long horn cattle in the early morning stillness.  We often thought how wonderful it would be if the great oak trees could tell their stories.

 We were so thrilled to have a number of runners with us this year and I owe so much to my running partner on the day James Parkinson, an old knee injury struck at mile 6 and he literally kept me going.  Thank you so much James!

Thank you to all those that ran on our behalf, I hope they know the good that they have done and feel incredibly proud in running a spectacular but challenging Windsor Half marathon course. Well done!” 

Faced with less than ideal weather conditions and a rather undulating course, Team Devine completed the 13.1 mile course and in doing so raised over £12,000. A fantastic amount that could fund over 21 day care sessions at our hospice for a local child with life-limiting or life-threatening condition.

Amongst the team was one of our trustees, Fraser Silvey, along with friends of the charity such as Bill Dearling, Matthew Bracher and Jack Richardson. We were thrilled that so many of employees from our corporate supporters also joined Team Devine including Open Health and Alfresco Software, who kindly sponsored the marquee at the event.

A huge well done to everyone that ran and thank you to all the wonderful supporters who came along to provide much-needed motivation on the day!