A DOWNEND nurse is preparing to run through some of Europe’s capital cities to support the charity she works for.
Karen Cooper, known as KC, is a team leader for the St Peter’s Hospice charity’s Hospice at Home service, which provides hands-on nursing care in patients’ homes in the last weeks of their lives.
She has dedicated more than 20 years of her life to working for the charity – and has taken on the challenge of completing six-half marathons over an 18-month period with the aim of raising over £1,950 to support its work.
St Peter’s Hospice cares for adults with incurable illnesses in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, as well as providing support for their families.
Care is provided free to patients and families but the charity relies on gifts in wills, donations, fundraising and money raised through its shops to fund its services.
KC began her challenge in October with half-marathons in Cardiff and Valencia.
In 2025 she will race in Lisbon, Berlin, and Copenhagen, before finishing her challenge in Prague in April 2026.
KC is covering all travel and race expenses herself, to ensure every donation goes directly the hospice.
She said: “It’s my way of giving back to a place that has given so much to the community.
“I’m a keen – albeit slow – runner, so when I saw this challenge, I thought it was ideal.”
After six years as an inpatient nurse, 15 as a community nurse specialist and three at Hospice at Home, KC, who is 52, has has a wealth of experience of the impact the hospice has on people’s lives.
She said: “We believe everyone deserves care and dignity at the end of their life, and our expert teams provide that in a professional and caring way.
“Our support is holistic, and covers the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual issues that can arise because of serious illness.
“We also extend our care to loved ones and carers, providing support during the hardest of times.”
KC’s training for Cardiff and Valencia was hampered by a knee ligament strain but after a rest she restarted training in December for the Lisbon race in early March.
donations can be made to KC’s JustGiving page at tinyurl.com/2xs2masz.