Fundraising four lacing up their trainers for London Marathon

1 September 2022

The running fundraisers (left to right) Shereen, Sally, Kristal and Sharon.

A former police officer who is running this year’s London Marathon to raise money for the hospice that is supporting her terminally ill husband will be taking on the 26-mile route alongside three West Midlands Police colleagues.

Sharon Johnson (51) and a trio of her former co-workers had recently completed a 14-mile training run when we caught up with them - their longest running route to date as they prepare for this year’s London Marathon.

The four running buddies will be taking on the challenge in support of Primrose Hospice, a local charity that supports Chris, Sharon’s husband and the former Assistant Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, who is living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

“Chris is my motivation,” says Sharon. “He will be the person in my mind who keeps me going on the day.”

Chris, who was diagnosed with MND in November 2018, had worked for West Midlands Police for 29 years. He worked up until 2020, which is when his condition worsened and he was forced to retire.

Shortly after Chris, now 55, was diagnosed, Sharon started running, although she admits that back then, she could barely manage half-a-mile at first.

“I quickly realised that running was good for my mental health and gave me something to focus on,” adds Sharon, who has two children with Chris.

Almost three years after Sharon embarked on her running journey, she now finds herself training for a marathon, which will be taking place on Sunday 2 October.

“When Primrose Hospice called to tell me they have four spaces for this year’s event, I simply responded, leave it with me,” says Sharon, who will be joined by Kristal Taylor, Sally Duff and Shereen Ballintine.

The team will be wearing shirts with the names of 26 sponsors on - each of whom have donated towards their fundraising total - with number 26 being Chris.

Chris and Sharon Johnson at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

“We must be mad,” says 47-year-old Kristal, who has worked for the Force for 25 years and has previously worked for Chris.

“No, honestly, I’m genuinely really excited about this. It will be an amazing achievement. I can’t promise I’ll run it, but I’ll finish it.

“We’re doing this for Chris and for Sharon. They’re both phenomenal. Chris is one of those guys who the Force is just really fond of - I only have to go into the canteen and people will ask me how Chris and Sharon are.”

Kristal says that when she is struggling to get out of bed to train, it is Sharon that keeps her motivated.

“At the end of the day, if she can get out of bed and train, then I can, right?” she says.

“Sharon is so inspiring, I don’t think she realises just how inspirational she is. None of us would be doing this if it wasn’t for her.”

Sharon, whose career in the Force began when she was just 16, was forced to retire earlier this year so she could become a full-time carer for Chris.

Shereen (40), who is also part of the fundraising team, says her fellow-runners have become “like a family” to her.

“It’s a great honour for me to be running with Sharon and the others, for Chris. Sharon is one of the most mentally strong people I know,” says mother-of-two Shereen.

“We’re like a little family of runners now. I’ve turned 40 this year and as well as raising money, I want to prove to others that it’s never too late to run a London Marathon.”

Last year, more than 300 officers as well as their families and friends all took part in the Rock n Roll Liverpool Marathon and Half Marathon as part of team #WMPMND. To date, Sharon and her colleagues have raised more than £60,000 for the MND Association and Primrose Hospice.

This year, they have already raised more than £7,000 for Primrose Hospice, a local charity which provides vital support to people living with life-limiting illnesses, as well as their families.

Sharon ended: “The money we’re raising will make such a difference. Primrose Hospice is such an amazing place, they are just so passionate about helping people to live.”