Hackney father-of-four runs London Marathon for late wife

A dad-of-four is running the London Marathon next month in memory of his wife who died of a rare form of cancer three years ago.

Jay, 38, who lives in Queensbridge Road, Haggerston, is gearing up to run his first organised race when he lines up with other competitors on 13 April to raise funds for cancer prevention charity World Cancer Research Fund.

Ranjit Kaur was initially misdiagnosed with a slipped disc when she visited her GP In 2010 with lower back pain.

It was only a month later when she went back with a lump that she had a biopsy and was diagnosed with cancer.

After radiotherapy and chemotherapy hospital staff broke the terrible news that the sarcoma could not be controlled and was continuing to spread.

Ranjit spent her last days in St Joseph’s Hospice in Mare Street, Hackney Central, before passing away in November 2011.

Jay said: “Apart from the GP diagnosing the cancer late, everyone was brilliant looking after my wife – the Macmillan workers, nurses, hospice workers and the counsellors helping my kids.”

Jay, who looks after his elderly mother as well as his children, who are aged from 10 to 17, will be holding a charity raffle in late March to raise sponsorship money.

He said: “It’s quite an unusual situation because I’m not looking forward to the race but at the same time I can’t wait to run it.

“It’s the first proper race I’ve ever taken part in and my main goal is to finish without an embarrassing time.”

To sponsor Jay visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/jay.singh.