29 Jun 2026 Community

Running for Joanne: Jack’s London Marathon raises more than £2,300 for The Kirkwood

For more than a decade, Jack Neagle has been supporting The Kirkwood, taking on fundraising challenges in memory of someone who meant so much to one of his closest friends. What began as a single 10K run has grown into years of incredible dedication, culminating in an unforgettable London Marathon that saw him raise more than £2,310 to support local hospice care.

Crossing the finish line in one of the world's most iconic races was a personal achievement, but for Jack, every mile represented something much bigger. It was a chance to honour Joanne Philpott's memory, support families across Kirklees and continue a fundraising journey that has now raised almost £10,000 for The Kirkwood.

Jack's connection to the hospice began over ten years ago following the death of Joanne Philpott, the mother of his close friend, Henry.

Jack said: "My connection to Kirkwood starts from the passing of my good friend Henry's amazing mum, Joanne. I first started raising money when John Philpott organised a 10K race in memory of her over 10 years ago. From there I have continued to raise money for Kirkwood at numerous events and challenges over the years, totalling just short of £10,000, also through joint ventures with Henry himself."

Although he had completed countless fundraising challenges, one ambition had always remained just out of reach. Jack said: "It's been a dream of mine to run the London Marathon since I first started running races, but year after year it seemed an impossible task to successfully get a place through the ballot."

Everything changed when he discovered The Kirkwood had a charity place available for the 2026 event: "I stumbled across the one opportunity The Kirkwood had for the 2026 marathon and, after sending my case study in of past fundraising efforts for the charity, Judith from The Kirkwood rang me and said, 'I hope you've got your running shoes ready,' and that's when the hard work started."

Months of dedicated training followed, with Jack preparing himself physically and mentally for one of the biggest challenges of his life. On marathon day, he was joined in London by his girlfriend and ten friends, whose support made the experience even more memorable.

"Where to start!" Jack laughed. "I was going in with a lot of confidence after a successful training block. I had my sights set on a PB, albeit with a small knee injury. Myself, my girlfriend and 10 friends all came down to London to support, making the day even more special."

With thousands of runners and spectators lining the famous streets of the capital, the occasion quickly became one Jack will never forget.

"The crowds, the course, my motivation for running just made the whole race an out of body experience," he said. "Safe to say a few tears were shed, especially with the charity close to my heart and the money I raised pushing me on."

His determination paid off in spectacular fashion as he crossed the finish line in an incredible personal best time of two hours and 56 minutes. While the marathon medal and personal best were special achievements, Jack says the greatest reward came from knowing the difference the money would make.

Jack explained: "Once I started working with Judith and Julia and visited the hospice, it became apparent how important every single penny raised would matter to the hospice. Throughout the fundraising I had numerous conversations with people who had touching personal connections with the hospice, making the money raised even more important to me as I went on."

Those conversations, alongside memories of Joanne's own experience, reinforced just how vital The Kirkwood is to families across Kirklees: "The amount of people I had spoken to on my fundraising journey helped me understand more and more what it means to the people of Kirklees," Jack explained: "I also remember how important the hospice was to Joanne Philpott during the final stages of her life. Through conversations with Judith and Julia, it became even more apparent just how important the care provided by all the staff is in ensuring the very best quality of life possible. I saw how far everyone goes to make sure people and their families receive the support they need during the most difficult times."

Having completed one of the biggest challenges of his life, Jack hopes his story inspires others to combine their passions with fundraising for causes close to their hearts: "Whatever enjoyment you find in life, try to turn it into a challenge and raise a few quid for a cause close to your heart. Once you've completed that challenge, there aren't many feelings like it, and that beer at the end tasted so sweet as well! It truly was a pleasure to raise funds for The Kirkwood."

If Jack's story has inspired you to take on your own challenge, then click the link HERE to find out more.