Man’s first marathon to “put some positive energy forward”

Monday 06 March 2023

Doran Good lost his father to cancer last year and has decided to raise money for a charity close to his and his family’s hearts by running his first marathon.

Maggie’s at Southampton Hospital offers patients a ‘home from home’ that family and friends can visit while their loved ones are undergoing cancer treatment.

Doran’s dad – Mike – was diagnosed with high grade non-Hodgkins lymphoma in November 2021. He received treatment at Southampton Hospital for 10 months before tragically passing away. During that time Doran and his family utilised Maggie’s for support and as an escape from the hospital.

“It’s a place where you can visit family, essentially just to get away from the hospital,” Doran told Express. “It’s designed to look nothing like a hospital. There’s no reception, no-one in hospital uniforms. 

“Architects have come in and built a building that is nothing like a hospital, so it’s a complete change of scenery.”

He said this was essential for giving him, his mum Alison and his three siblings - Olly, Georgie and Eleanor - space to be together: “You mentally need a break. It’s a place you can go to speak to people who have knowledge and experience of cancer.”

Pictured: Doran with Mike and his mum Alison.

On his fundraising page Doran continued: “Maggie’s truly became a haven for Mum and Dad during their time in Southampton and when we visited them we benefited from the support there too. 

“At various points Dad received his treatment as an outpatient and was able to enjoy visiting the Centre and talking to people who really understood the situation he found himself in.”

Doran said he wanted to put some “positive energy forward” after his family’s experience and chose to pull the pin on finally running his first marathon.

“I wanted to make something good come out of what was quite obviously a horrible situation,” he said.

On 23 April Doran will be running the London Marathon to raise money for Maggie’s and has set himself the target of £3,000. Despite running during the covid lockdowns this will be his first official event.

“I am running the Marathon to raise funds for Maggie’s as a way of giving back to a charity which means so much to us.”

You can help Doran reach his target by donating HERE.