By Melton Times | Published 15 May, 2015
Amy Rudkin (39), a prison officer from Leicester, aims to complete The Outlaw Half Ironman in Nottingham, on May 31, in memory of Rich Hampson.
Rich (60) died in February after the cancer spread to his liver.
Amy hopes to raise £1,000 for the Leicester Hospice Charity LOROS where he spent two weeks with his family around him before he died.
Amy said: “Rich worked at HMP Leicester and we became friends through our lunchtime gym sessions. It was his idea to run our first half marathon together and we raised £1,500 for LOROS.
“Rich stopped running due to knee and hip problems but he continued to stay fit and healthy. Instead of meeting to run we would meet at Swithland and walk through Bradgate Park.
“He hadn’t been diagnosed with cancer long but it was terminal. He didn’t let it get him down and remained positive. He was best man at his best friend Bob’s wedding the day before he went to the hospice.
“Rich was a good kind man who will be missed by so many people. I was lucky to have him as my friend.”
Amy has twice ran in the London Marathon but expects this to be her toughest challenge to date.
She said: “I wanted to do a triathlon as I’ve done the running and I’ve also done marathon swims before but my fear lies with cycling.
“I fell off my bike when I was five and knocked all of my front teeth out. I didn’t have a bike up until late last year. My boyfriend did the Outlaw Triathlon last year and it just seemed unbelievable that you could ever think about swimming 1.2 miles, cycling 56 miles and running a half marathon.”
To donate visit www.justgiving.com/Amy-doestheOUTLAWHALF/
