Comedian Richard Herring ran the Hertfordshire Half Marathon on 7 November – just 9 months after having cancer surgery – and raised more than £30,000 for our hospitals!

 

Richard wanted to raise funds to thank NHS staff at Lister Hospital in Stevenage and Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood, where he was treated for testicular cancer earlier in the year.

Richard had an operation to remove the cancer at Lister in February and had chemotherapy at Mount Vernon in March, with the care he received inspiring him to take on the 13.1-mile challenge.

 

It was revealed ahead of the race, which started and finished in Knebworth, that he had received a pledge to match any donations made on the day – helping him pass his £25,000 target to well over £30,000.

 

Richard, who was a champion on the Channel 4 game show Taskmaster, said: “I never imagined when I was having the surgery that I’d be running a half marathon just 9 months later and that I’d do it in under 2 hours!

 

“I did this to thank all the NHS staff who helped to save me. I’m also grateful to the matched funding that doubled the donations on race day.”

 

Everyone at our hospitals would like to say congratulations and huge thanks to Richard for not only running the half marathon, which has a very challenging route, but also for raising this incredible amount of money for our hospitals.

 

Richard is a great comedian and also a very kind and thoughtful person to do this. His brilliant fundraising will ensure our wonderful NHS teams continue to give exceptional care to patients who face similar situations to his. We are all extremely grateful.