Hundreds join challenge to remember popular journalist
Family, friends and members of the community are coming together this September to remember Kevin Leonard, a much-loved husband, father and colleague.
Kevin was a popular journalist who had worked for BBC Wales, Cardiff University and the South Wales Echo during his career. Outside of his profession, Kevin was a prolific park-runner and passionate fan of both Cardiff City Football Club and the Wales National Football Team.
The ‘Run 50k 4 Kev’ challenge, organised by Kevin’s wife Eben, encourages participants to run, walk or cycle 50k during September and will raise money for City Hospice who cared for Kevin at home before he sadly passed away from lung cancer in February 2021.
City Hospice is Cardiff’s local hospice and is the only provider of home-based specialist palliative care in the capital. The charity provides care to 550 patients with terminal or life limiting illnesses at any one time, in addition to counselling and support services for families.
Eben Leonard said: “Losing Kev, a 19 minute park-runner and regular gym-goer, at the age of 51 to the cruel disease of lung cancer has been heartbreaking. During the darkest of times, City Hospice provided immeasurable care for us; managing Kevin’s symptoms and allowing him to be cared for at home, safe from Covid.
“We want to give back to this amazing charity and are combining the love Kevin had for the outdoors with fundraising for City Hospice to say thank you. We’re putting on our trainers to complete 50k in our ‘Kevathon’ this September to raise £10,000 for this wonderful charity who helped us beyond measure.”
Daisy Magill, Fundraising and Events Coordinator at City Hospice, said: “We’d like to thank Eben’s family, friends and Kevin’s colleagues for supporting Eben and taking on ‘Run 50k 4 Kev’ this September. We’re delighted that over 250 people have ordered t-shirts ready for the challenge and will be following their progress every step of the way. The generous support will enable us to continue to care people in our community when they need us the most.”
For further information or to donate, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/run50k4kev
Image: Kevin and Eben Leonard
