A Daughter’s Journey of Love and Loss

“My dad was amazing, special, kind and inspirational; everybody loved him,” said Annabelle Barnett.”

Annabelle, a healthy lifestyle advisor from Whitefield, decided to take on the Great Manchester Run (which took place in May), shortly after her dad, David Barnett, was admitted into Bury Hospice, in October 2024.

She’d often head out after work for some running practice with friends, before coming into the hospice to visit her dad.

Although, having been into sports from a young age, playing football and later on, frequently attending the gym, running was never a regular activity for Annabelle.

She said: “Running was something I added to my routine, which got me out and gave me a break.”

“I would go out and put my music on and just run instead of planning a full workout.”

She added: “The Great Manchester Run was a goal but it was also a good distraction.”

The Barnett family had cared for David at home before he came into the hospice.

Annabelle’s mum, Lucy Barnett, said: “We were provided with so much support when David came to the hospice. We could come and go, we could bring the dog, we could scream and cry – I don’t know anywhere else where we could do that.”

“People came to see David at the hospice all the time; losing him was the biggest loss, not just to his family.”

She added: “We don’t know what we would have done without the support of the hospice, because the last few weeks were just so hard.”

Having experienced how well her dad was cared for at the hospice, Annabelle focused her efforts on raising much needed funds and completing the Great Manchester Run in her dad’s memory.

In preparation for the race, Annabelle worked on strengthening her body, running three times a week for a total of 17 weeks, as part of her training plan.

She was nervous on the morning of the race. She’d only slept for three hours the night before and she didn’t know quite what to expect of her first half marathon. 

Annabelle was able to follow the lead of her friend, Lily, who had previously ran the race, and together they kept a steady pace throughout.

She said: “I had been worried about what would happen if I got a stitch or whether the heat would be a factor. But running the race consistently proved that I could do exactly what I’d put my mind to.”

“The race wasn’t as scary as I thought. It actually gave me more adrenaline; the crowd really gets you going.” 

She added: “It was a really fun day and I was sad when it was over. It only kicked in the next day that I'd actually done it.”

Annabelle initially set her fundraising target at £2000, which, with the support of the community, was raised in just two days.

The newly reset target of £5000 was also smashed, with Annabelle achieving 170% of her fundraising goal, as donations totalled £9,000.

She said: “Four out of the twelve beds at Bury Hospice are unused because of inadequate funding; I wanted to push myself to do something to help because of what my dad went through.”

Lucy, added: “We wanted to raise the money because there shouldn’t be an empty bed in the hospice; there are too many poorly people who need care.”

“Annabelle did the best she could. She had done her training around where we live, so everybody who supported her would see her out running, and they would offer their donations. I really liked that; it was special to watch.”

Now with the taste for running, Annabelle has got her sights set on doing a full marathon in the future, to improve upon her fitness and once again, experience intense training.

She says that she thinks clearer when she’s out running in the fresh air. It starts her day off positively and she enjoys all the training that goes into preparing for a long-distance race.

“I’d recommend taking on a challenge for Bury Hospice, to anybody,” said Annabelle.”

“It’s an unbelievable place and the staff are amazing.”

“Running has given me discipline, it’s boosted my confidence and made me even more determined.”

Could you or anybody you know bravely take on a challenge event in aid of Bury Hospice?

To explore some fantastic fundraising opportunities, visit: https://www.buryhospice.org.uk/events/challenge-events