London Marathon: Bowler brothers Ed and Ben want to raise £10k in Stuart Marshall's memory
Two brothers who went to school in Bishop's Stortford are running the London Marathon to raise £10,000 in memory of their former babysitter who became a lifelong friend.
Ed and Ben Bowler, who attended St Mary's Catholic School, will run the 26.2-mile race in aid of blood cancer charity Leukaemia Care.
They pledged to take on the challenge in memory of Stuart Marshall, who died last October from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. He was 56.
Ben, 36, said: "Stuart lived in Stortford until around seven years ago, when he and his wife Lorna moved to Dubai for Lorna’s work.
"He and Lorna were our babysitters when the four of us – Ed and I have another brother and one sister – were growing up and we remained lifelong friends ever since."
He added: “Despite the shocking news Stuart received, he remained positive throughout his treatment, never complaining or moaning and tackling every day head on from start to finish.
"His treatment was rigorous, often being told that he would have to come back for yet more chemo, each bout stronger than the last. Blood transfusions followed a bone marrow transplant and his strength began to suffer.
“We watched as a once big, strong, strapping man – a man that used to protect us in so many ways – slowly but surely started to lose his battle with this horrific disease.
“Sadly, on Saturday 13th October, Stuart passed away quietly in his hospital bed having said his goodbyes to those close around him."
While the brothers were growing up, they played football for Bishop's Stortford Swifts FC. Ed, 40, still lives in the town while Ben is a resident of Hatfield Heath – close enough for the pair to train for the marathon together.
To sponsor the brothers, visit their donation page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/benanded-bowler.