Rick Bolt ran the 2021 London Marathon for Liberty’s Legacy, a Special Fund of the Bone Cancer Research Trust (BCRT). Liberty’s Legacy was set up in memory of Liberty who died from Ewing sarcoma, a form of primary bone cancer, when she was just 14 years old. Here, Rick shares his experience of being part of #TeamBones.

Why did you decide to run the London Marathon for BCRT?

Friends invited me to run for Liberty’s Legacy and BCRT as their son had been a keen footballer at a club where I have been coaching for 12 years. Sadly, their son was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, the same form of bone cancer Liberty had. I jumped at the opportunity to support the charity and rise to the challenge of undertaking this marathon adventure. Fortunately, their son is now in remission, having undergone major surgery.

How did BCRT support you with your marathon?

From the day I signed up I felt part of a ‘family’ charity with a team of people committed to supporting me every step of the way. They gave me encouragement through those hard months of training and creative ideas for fundraising, and they kitted me out in the charity colours and were there to cheer me on through the streets of London.

What was the best thing about being part of #TeamBones?

This inspirational journey was encapsulated during the marathon. The energy, passion, togetherness, excitement, support and positivity on the day from #TeamBones was unbelievable and will stay with me forever. I suffered hamstring cramp at 22 miles, close to one of the BCRT charity cheer points, and my heart just sank. After all that hard work I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to complete the course, but the charity supporters spurred me on to complete the 26.2 miles – just awesome!

Would you recommend that others run the London Marathon with #TeamBones?

Without hesitation! Raising funds for vital cancer research is of course challenging, but with the support of BCRT and its fundraising team behind you the process becomes thoroughly manageable – and the result is one of euphoria and human triumph!

Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience?

I would like to thank the BCRT team for the opportunity to run for the charity. The whole experience inspired me so much that I decided to do the London Marathon again in 2022, alongside the Brighton Marathon! Completing two marathons in a year was ambitious, but I couldn’t imagine a better way to channel my focus and energy in support of the incredible work that BCRT does.

If you’d like to make your marathon experience even more memorable, use your ballot place to make a difference to the lives of bone cancer patients and join #TeamBones today. We’re waiting to welcome you to our family! To get going, click here.