Construction worker runs Brighton Half Marathon for hospice which cared for both his partners

James Power ran in memory of his wife Natalie and later partner Nicky Burton Credit: PA

A construction company worker has run the Brighton Half Marathon to raise funds for the hospice charity which cared for both his partners, who had cancer.

James Power has taken part in the race for the last four years, in memory of his wife Natalie and later partner Nicky Burton.

The 53-year-old was one of 10,000 people taking part in the half-marathon weekend and completed the event with family and friends.

Sunday's event was the 34th race to be held in the city.

  • ITV News Meridian's Charlotte Wilkins reports from Brighton

Former Wales rugby captain and HIV campaigner Gareth Thomas started the race, which is organised by local charity The Sussex Beacon.

Mr Power, who lives in Watford, Hertfordshire, lost his wife Natalie to stomach cancer.

The couple were due to get married in Italy in August 2011, but instead had a small wedding in Watford, surrounded by close family and friends.

Mrs Power stayed at a Peace Hospice Care inpatient unit in Watford from July to August 2012, before spending six weeks at her parents’ home in Henham, Essex, where she died.

“They couldn’t have done enough for her,” said Mr Power.

“The way they treated her, my family, her friends, whoever came to see her, was absolutely amazing.”

Mr Power with Nicky Burton and the t-shirt he wore in her memory

In 2015 Mr Power met Nicky Burton, and said he was “in disbelief” when she was admitted to the same Peace Hospice Care inpatient unit in March 2019, after being diagnosed with an incurable lung cancer in about November 2018.

She died there on March 5 2019, at the age of 47.

Mr Power said that despite it being a “difficult” time, he wanted to raise funds for the place which looked after both women with “such love, care and attention”.

James Power with friends and family at the Brighton Half Marathon in 2020 Credit: James Power/PA

He has run the Brighton Half Marathon every year since 2020 for the charity, now operating as Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care, after a promise he made to Ms Burton.

He said: “Nicky was big into her running and she used to run three times a week, up to 25 miles a week, and we used to do some half marathons and run together.

“Nicky would glide as a runner, whereas although I come from a sporting background, I would sometimes look a bit awkward when I ran, and Nicky would always jokingly tell me, ‘look at your face, why don’t you run with a smile. It will be easier if you run with a smile’.”

The Brighton Half Marathon event raises hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity every year.

Among the other participants was Chloe Neilson-Hopkins

Chloe said: “I am taking on 40 races, in my 40th year, to raise money for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust to help more disadvantaged young people to overcome adversity and realise their true potential. Some of the young people the Trust supports, have faced so many challenges in their lives, their bravery has inspired and motivated me to share my journey back to running, which has been challenging….having had severe incontinence after my second child.

Over the past 2 years, through exercise, physio and diet I’ve made huge progress, but it’s something that can affect me daily and almost always when I run! But I’m persevering and hope that by the end of my year I will take part in an ultra-event!! I know this isn’t a sexy topic, but it would be great to raise awareness of this important issue affecting so many women’s health”

Luke Rickett, 19 and Anwar Karimi, 46, The Brighton Table Tennis Club

Members of the Brighton Table Tennis Club have decided to run the race to raise money for the club. The Brighton charity was founded in 2007 with the belief that table tennis can be used as a powerful tool to engage people of all ages and transform lives. The club runs over 200 tables across the city and has a full-time centre in Kemptown. The club includes people with learning disabilities, people from traveller sites, Looked After Children, people with physical disabilities, the LGBT community and young asylum seekers.

Luke Rickett is a 19-year-old who has been involved with BTTC for over 10 years. He recently won the ‘Care Leaver of the Year Award’ for Brighton & Hove.

Anwar Karimi is a 46 year old Kurdish asylum seeker who has been in the UK for 15 months. He has recently been moved to London by the Home Office while he waits for his decision but has continued going to parkrun in Mile End.