The charity’s Hero Run, sponsored by Jones & Whymark, is a chance to dress as your hero for a 2km family fun run or more seasoned runners can choose to take on a 5km or 10km.

Rachel and her sister Sarah will be running on Sunday in homemade superhero capes and masks in Suffragette colours. Rachel said:

“I’m not a runner and it’s currently taking me almost an hour to complete 5K, but it’s not about the time, it’s about doing something with others to show our support for St Helena Hospice and to remember Viv.”

Viv had lived with incurable cancer for 10 years and more recently, the couple had accessed a variety of services, as Rachel explained:

“There is so much more to St Helena than the amazing inpatient Hospice services. We had support from specialist community nurses over the time she was incurably ill; we both had complementary therapy at crucial times; we had physio and occupational therapy adjustments to our home and loan of equipment; Singlepoint were on the end of the phone day and night and in the end were on speed dial; and we made use of the emotional support offered, including bereavement support since Viv died.

“Everything about the experience of St Helena matters and helps. St Helena is truly holistic and it all helps local people like us. 

“The very least I can do now is to try to raise some more funds to keep the services going.”

Hero Run will be held on the Colchester Sports Park cycle track at Cuckoo Farm Way, Colchester, CO4 5YX.