I did something in memory of Chris and fulfilled his wishes that the charity should be recognised for the amazing work it does.
Every stride of the gruelling London Marathon this year was a reminder for Tina Dyer-Slade of why she was taking part.
As she pounded the pavements, she was acutely aware of the list of names she had written on one of her legs dedicating each mile to loved ones including those she had lost.
And top of that list, in pride of place, was her late nephew, Chris Bullen who died in 2022 aged 40 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Chris had received treatment at Hope for Tomorrow’s mobile cancer care unit near his home in Ilkley, Yorkshire and was supported and cared for by his wife Debbie, His family knew what a difference the cancer care unit had made to him during his illness.
His mum, Michele (pictured), who is Tina’s sister, says her son had really wanted the charity to know how much he appreciated the service he received at the mobile unit.
“I have run with a women’s running group in Southampton for around 30 years and I did the ABP half marathon in Southampton last year and raised £600 for Hope for Tomorrow in memory of Chris. But the marathon was in a different league.
“ I didn’t tell anyone that I was entering the ballot. More than 800,000 people applied for 57,000 places and I had heard of people applying year after year for sometimes 15 years or more and never getting a place, so I was astounded when I was offered a place first time.
“I originally thought I would take part as a personal challenge.”
But it soon became a wider endeavour involving her family and friends. Son Jack drew up a training schedule for her and her nephew Greg who volunteers for Apple FM radio station in Somerset gave her regular shout outs in the lead up to the day.
“He hosts his programme on Saturday mornings between 10am and 1pm so I used to time my long runs to coincide with his show and listen to him on my headphones. He used to read out requests, encourage me along, promote my sponsorship page and play music with a great running beat every week,” says Tina.
“My husband often came out with me when I was training or my friend Jan Hill cycled alongside me when I was on my longer runs, Jack and Rosie also joined in some training runs.
Sponsorship came in abundance from family and friends including pledges from her running group, pilates classmates and work colleagues at Southampton City Council.
“He was so grateful for the care and attention that they gave him. Life would have been so much more difficult for him without it,” says Michele.
Knowing that Chris would have been so grateful and proud of what she was doing together with the support and encouragement of family and friends gave Tina the courage to stand at the starting line for the marathon on 27th April which was the hottest day of 2025 so far.
And with more than 20 family and friends scattered across the route waving banners of support and handing out copious amounts of Jelly Babies, the whole event became a real family affair.
Tina says: “My husband, Jon, was waving a banner so big it could have landed a Boeing 747. My four sisters, Sue, Marion, Michele and Mandy and husband Peter kept popping up on the route as well as my children, Jack and Rosie, together with my nieces Kate, Claire and family and a host of other lovely family members and friends. I really appreciated their support on what turned out to be the most brilliant day.
“I had my name on my t-shirt and people were chanting it as I ran. I even had people shouting my name from the balconies of tower blocks and from bridges above, the atmosphere was just amazing.”
It couldn’t have been more different from how Tina imagined when she first thought about taking part in the London Marathon.
Tina’s nephew and Godson, Chris, sadly passed away in 2022.
“During the marathon I was thinking how hard it must have been for Chris going through what he did, and it was emotional crossing the finishing line”, says Tina.
“Michele’s words to me were: ‘It’s not fair he is not here to thank you for the amazing effort you put into the marathon and the cause.’”
“It took me 7 hours and 23 minutes to finish so I didn’t break any records, much longer than I had hoped for. I got a medal and a t-shirt, but more importantly, I did something in memory of Chris and fulfilled his wishes that the charity should be recognised for the amazing work it does.
“It was a wonderful day. Ironically my husband did a similar distance to me as a supporter walking to various points on route, only he did it without any training or fancy socks!”
Lots of family and friends were following Tina’s progress from home on a tracker including ‘Grandma’ in Yorkshire who is 91 and Beth who was in Southampton looking after Finn the family dog. Both were wearing supporter’s t-shirts specially designed for the event by Mandy and Rosie, as were all the family and friends around the route in London.
Tina says she may well do some more fundraising and would encourage anyone who is thinking about volunteering or raising funds to give it a go.
“It was fantastic to raise more than £2500 for such a worthy cause (on top of the £600 the previous year) that makes such a difference to people’s lives and one that is so close to our hearts. It was great that so many people were so supportive,” she says.
“Chris has been always very much at the front and foremost of our minds. Family and friends have all said he would be so proud of what I did. That really means a lot.”
I did something in memory of Chris and fulfilled his wishes that the charity should be recognised for the amazing work it does.
Every stride of the gruelling London Marathon this year was a reminder for Tina Dyer-Slade of why she was taking part.
As she pounded the pavements, she was acutely aware of the list of names she had written on one of her legs dedicating each mile to loved ones including those she had lost.
And top of that list, in pride of place, was her late nephew, Chris Bullen who died in 2022 aged 40 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Chris had received treatment at Hope for Tomorrow’s mobile cancer care unit near his home in Ilkley, Yorkshire and was supported and cared for by his wife Debbie, His family knew what a difference the cancer care unit had made to him during his illness.
His mum, Michele (pictured), who is Tina’s sister, says her son had really wanted the charity to know how much he appreciated the service he received at the mobile unit.
“He was so grateful for the care and attention that they gave him. Life would have been so much more difficult for him without it,” says Michele.
Knowing that Chris would have been so grateful and proud of what she was doing together with the support and encouragement of family and friends gave Tina the courage to stand at the starting line for the marathon on 27th April which was the hottest day of 2025 so far.
And with more than 20 family and friends scattered across the route waving banners of support and handing out copious amounts of Jelly Babies, the whole event became a real family affair.
Tina says: “My husband, Jon, was waving a banner so big it could have landed a Boeing 747. My four sisters, Sue, Marion, Michele and Mandy and husband Peter kept popping up on the route as well as my children, Jack and Rosie, together with my nieces Kate, Claire and family and a host of other lovely family members and friends. I really appreciated their support on what turned out to be the most brilliant day.
“I had my name on my t-shirt and people were chanting it as I ran. I even had people shouting my name from the balconies of tower blocks and from bridges above, the atmosphere was just amazing.”
It couldn’t have been more different from how Tina imagined when she first thought about taking part in the London Marathon.
“I have run with a women’s running group in Southampton for around 30 years and I did the ABP half marathon in Southampton last year and raised £600 for Hope for Tomorrow in memory of Chris. But the marathon was in a different league.
“ I didn’t tell anyone that I was entering the ballot. More than 800,000 people applied for 57,000 places and I had heard of people applying year after year for sometimes 15 years or more and never getting a place, so I was astounded when I was offered a place first time.
“I originally thought I would take part as a personal challenge.”
But it soon became a wider endeavour involving her family and friends. Son Jack drew up a training schedule for her and her nephew Greg who volunteers for Apple FM radio station in Somerset gave her regular shout outs in the lead up to the day.
“He hosts his programme on Saturday mornings between 10am and 1pm so I used to time my long runs to coincide with his show and listen to him on my headphones. He used to read out requests, encourage me along, promote my sponsorship page and play music with a great running beat every week,” says Tina.
“My husband often came out with me when I was training or my friend Jan Hill cycled alongside me when I was on my longer runs, Jack and Rosie also joined in some training runs.
Sponsorship came in abundance from family and friends including pledges from her running group, pilates classmates and work colleagues at Southampton City Council.
Tina’s nephew and Godson, Chris, sadly passed away in 2022.
“During the marathon I was thinking how hard it must have been for Chris going through what he did, and it was emotional crossing the finishing line”, says Tina.
“Michele’s words to me were: ‘It’s not fair he is not here to thank you for the amazing effort you put into the marathon and the cause.’”
“It took me 7 hours and 23 minutes to finish so I didn’t break any records, much longer than I had hoped for. I got a medal and a t-shirt, but more importantly, I did something in memory of Chris and fulfilled his wishes that the charity should be recognised for the amazing work it does.
“It was a wonderful day. Ironically my husband did a similar distance to me as a supporter walking to various points on route, only he did it without any training or fancy socks!”
Lots of family and friends were following Tina’s progress from home on a tracker including ‘Grandma’ in Yorkshire who is 91 and Beth who was in Southampton looking after Finn the family dog. Both were wearing supporter’s t-shirts specially designed for the event by Mandy and Rosie, as were all the family and friends around the route in London.
Tina says she may well do some more fundraising and would encourage anyone who is thinking about volunteering or raising funds to give it a go.
“It was fantastic to raise more than £2500 for such a worthy cause (on top of the £600 the previous year) that makes such a difference to people’s lives and one that is so close to our hearts. It was great that so many people were so supportive,” she says.
“Chris has been always very much at the front and foremost of our minds. Family and friends have all said he would be so proud of what I did. That really means a lot.”
