Train driver dad set to get Grace to the marathon

When Grace Ashwell got a place in the London Marathon, as she recovered from cancer, she never thought her dad would be driving her there by train.

But Dan Ashwell, father of the 19-year-old from Wolverhampton, who was diagnosed in 2022, is an Avanti West Coast driver.

So on Friday, Grace will step aboard his train to London Euston, ahead of Sunday's race, during which she will be raising money for Warwick Children's Cancer Charity Molly Ollys.

"It feels like we are sharing this moment and this accomplishment together," she said. "I think it will make the journey down that extra bit special, because I know dad will be in the front seat."

After being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma at the age of 15, Grace had six rounds of intensive chemotherapy, but is now in recovery.

During that time, her father took time off work to support, and spend time with her.

Speaking about the family's journey since then, he said: "It's been a bit of a rollercoaster ride to be honest, for all of us, not just Grace.

"But, we are finally getting there now, we are getting to the end of the journey and I think the marathon is going to top it off. It's something I'm never going to forget, ever."

Grace chose to run in aid of Molly Ollys, after the charity paid for her to take driving lessons while going through chemotherapy.

"Molly Ollys was that bit personal with me, checking in if I was okay," she said.

"When I was able to go out and do the driving it almost felt like a sense of normality, which I hadn't had for a while, so it really stuck with me for the charity.

"So when I got my place, I knew straight away, I wanted to fundraise for them."

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