Aylesbury Soldiers stage marathon in memory of friend to raise funds for Florence Nightingale Hospice

And in the absence of any public marathons being available, Army Air Corps Lance Corporals Joshua Bulpin and Ben Hammond are staging their own ‘Run for Dan’ marathon at Wattisham Airfield on 12 th August, to raise money for Aylesbury’s Florence Nightingale Hospice in memory of Airtrooper Daniel Pope.

In July 2016, Army Air Corps Airtrooper Daniel Pope was diagnosed with a terminal form of liver cancer at the age of 21, and died just weeks later in Florence Nightingale

Hospice.

“Daniel was an outstanding soldier and a highly career-driven individual who had the aspiration and desire to become an army aviation pilot, however, this path was taken away from him by his illness,” says Josh, who met Daniel when they began their training with the Army Air Corps.

“I lost my best friend. Daniel and I knew each other from the very beginning of our careers, we met in training and were posted to the same squadron. We served

together in Afghanistan and we even lived right next door to one another,” Josh says.

“I was devastated when Daniel told me about his diagnosis, and I tried to keep myself occupied by helping him,” Josh remembers.

“I wanted to make the time he had left as enjoyable and as memorable as possible not only for himself but for his family, and managed to organise numerous experiences and days out for him before he passed away, one of the most memorable being the Rally for Heroes day at the Hospice which the Florence Nightingale Hospice team helped to co-ordinate.”

The ‘Run for Dan’ team, Josh and Ben, met when they were both promoted to HQ Sqn, 4 Regiment, Army Air Corps.

“During this difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic and seeing families' loved ones pass away without a chance to give a proper farewell, has brought up old wounds

which we have been unable to shake,” says Ben, who lost his mother to breast cancer in 2008 when he was only ten years old.

“Our release throughout this period of self- isolation has been to go out and run. Josh and I began to run together after empathising with each other’s stories and soon realised that running was a way to find peace.”

“We fully support Josh and Ben on their Marathon quest,” says Daniel’s mother, Lorna. “Daniel represented the Army in cross country and would encourage Josh to run with him, so to go on and train for a marathon is quite an achievement.”

Lorna and Daniel’s father Mike, along with sister Jess, have supported the Hospice ever since Daniel died.

“Daniel was quite afraid at first to go to the Hospice as he didn’t think he quite fitted his vision of what a hospice was, but following an initial one night ‘test’ he stayed for nearly three weeks until he passed away,” Lorna says.

“The support we had made such a huge difference to us all coping with Daniel’s illness and we have continued to fundraise for the Hospice in Daniel’s memory.”

Josh explains, “Thanks to my regiment and Florence Nightingale Hospice, I was able to remain close to Daniel and be a form of support for him and his family during his final days, something I am eternally grateful for.

"The Hospice provided incredible care and support for Daniel and all of us who loved him, and that’s why I am raising money for the Hospice through this marathon.”

If you would like to donate, please visit their JustGiving page here: www.justgiving.com/run-for-danFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Run-for-Dan-115312416872435/Instagram: @runfordanpope