Latest news with #LondonMarathon
Metro
3 days ago
- Health
- Metro
A surprising London building has been named one of the world's most beautiful
From sprawling mansions to ancient castles, the UK has no shortage of architectural marvels. But now, the most beautiful buildings in the world have been named – and the only entry from the UK isn't The Shard or Tower Bridge, but a building in a hospital. Making the cut alongside world-famous structures such as the Taj Mahal and the Pantheon is the Maggie's Cancer Centre, which sits within St James' Hospital in Leeds. The centre breaks with the sterile tradition of many British medical institutions. There's no clinical brickwork here: think floor-to-ceiling glass windows, wooden atriums, and thick, jungle-style fauna. The centre was built by Maggie, a cancer charity, in 2019, and provides support for people living with cancer, as well as those who love someone living with it. It's all in keeping with the ethos behind the charity, which is to provide a calming space for people amid the stress and uncertainty that a cancer diagnosis can often bring. And in the architects' view, 'great design can help people feel better.' With that in mind, the centre's interiors incorporate everything the Maggie's team feels is often missing in healing environments, including natural materials and soft lighting. The building was ranked at number 19 on TimeOut's worldwide list, and number 8 in Europe. Get must-read property stories, DIY hacks and tips for buying a home straight to your inbox. Sign up here. The building has three designated counselling rooms, alongside the centre's 'heart,' which is comprised of the kitchen, social spaces, a library and an exercise room – all of which are often used for group activities, including yoga and Tai Chi. There's also a rooftop garden, inspired by the woodlands and rolling hills of rural Yorkshire. The centre's visitors are also welcome to give a helping hand in the garden, and their efforts are crucial in sustaining the life of the 23,000 bulbs and 17,000 plants that grow there. Outside of the UK, India's Taj Mahal took the crown as the world's most beautiful building, which was famously described not as a 'piece of architecture, but the proud passion of an emperor's love wrought in living stones.' More Trending Since it opened in 1648 after a seventeen-year construction project, between 7 and 8 million holidaymakers flock each year to marvel at its detailed marble design and famously onion-shaped dome. Striking architecture aside, Maggie's supporters have a strong legacy of fundraising. In 2023, Caroline Frith was named JustGiving's top female fundraiser after she completed the London Marathon with stage 4 cancer, having raised more than £22,000 for the charity. So, in the words of Maggie's, the kettle's already on – all you need to do is come in. Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland Fondation Louis Vuitton, France Trinity College Library, Ireland The Twist, Norway Sagrada Familia, Spain Pantheon, Italy Palmenhaus at Schonbrunn Palace, Austria Maggie's Centre, St James's Hospital, UK Source: TimeOut Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ View More » MORE: The best Dubai alternatives including one city with flights for just £25 MORE: I stayed in the 'rundown dump' named the UK's worst city to visit — it stole my heart MORE: Glass roof collapses onto passengers at Majorca's Palma airport
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Thirty marathons in 30 days completed: ‘one and done'
Michael Heyes, of Queenstown, pictured after completing his 30th marathon in 30 days. PHOTO: TRACEY ROXBURGH One Queenstown man's marathon effort came to an end yesterday, but he vows it was a "one and done". Michael Heyes, who turned 30 on Monday, decided to run a marathon for 30 consecutive days ahead of his milestone, simultaneously raising money for Australian mental health charity Black Dog Institute. His goal was to raise $30k. To date he had raised more than $4000 via a fundraising link on his Instagram account, @mikeysmarathonsformental health. Originally from the United Kingdom, Mr Heyes lived in Australia for about 20 years before moving to Queenstown about a year ago. There to see him cross the finish-line at Gantley's Tavern at noon, were his proud parents Cathy and Kevin, who flew from Perth for the occasion. Mr Heyes said he had spent up to seven hours running every day — though was reduced to walking some days after injuring his right calf muscle — usually starting about 6am to fit his jaunts in between shifts at work. While his body had held up relatively well, Mr Heyes joked his legs felt like they belonged to a 60 year old by the end of his last marathon. He was adamant when asked if he might contemplate another similar fundraising challenge. "Oh, God, no — this is one and done," he laughed. As to whether he might complete another marathon, the jury was still out. "I signed up for the London Marathon [next year] and I didn't get in, and I'm very happy about it. "I'll maybe run again — maybe not."
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
My heart shattered when pal phoned & told me my boyfriend was dead – but two days later he sent me a letter & I saw red
HEARING the words 'they've found a body', Elena Ricci braced herself for what was about to unfold. Just hours earlier, she'd received an email from her boyfriend of six years, Chirag, detailing what he was about to do, and now the pieces of the jigsaw were all falling into place. 8 Elena Ricci with her partner of six years, Chirag, who tragically took his own life Credit: SWNS 8 Elena Ricci, from Birmingham, was sent a letter from her boyfriend days after his death Credit: SWNS 8 Chirag left his girlfriend Elena a 'yes list' with 101 things to do to help her learn to live again Credit: SWNS Chirag, 26, had taken his own life, and while he'd told Elena, 29, of his plan the same day, she never imagined for a second that he'd go through with it. To add to her grief, two days later Elena received an apology from Chirag in a letter 'from beyond the grave', and her shock turned to anger. In it, Chirag had also written 101 tasks he wanted her to complete, ranging from a bungee jump to a summer romance and asking her mum to set her up with a date. Elena, a content creator from Birmingham, West Midlands, who met Chirag at university, says: "When I first read it, I thought 'what the hell is this?'. "It read 'I'm really sorry about what I have done, but we already had 50 things we wanted to do together - I hope you'll still do them. I added 50 more things I think you should do'. "At the beginning, I felt anger and disbelief - that he'd had the audacity to send me this." Elena explained how Chirag, who lived in London, had struggled with his mental health for some time before he took his own life. She recalls how he didn't talk about his feelings, but that he never spoke of contemplating suicide either. She says: "He never said he was thinking of killing himself. "We'd talk about life in general and how hard it is to find purpose. I didn't think life could get worse after my dad killed himself – but his suicide note confession chilled me to my core "Things like racism got to him - people don't realise how much it gets to you." 'I had no idea' It was in July 2022 when the email landed in Elena's inbox, and she soon realised that Chirag had scheduled it to land at around the same time of his death. She says she thought the email was some kind of 'joke': "It was very sudden, I had no idea,' Elena adds. "He sent me the email at 8pm, and in the email it said what he did [his plans to take his own life]. I didn't believe it. "I still thought it was a joke for a few hours. "I felt a lot of guilt - not understanding how severe things were and not being able to help. "I wish I could have done more but I know there was nothing I could have done." 8 Elena Ricci says she was initially furious after receiving the letter, but has since embraced the list three years on Credit: SWNS 8 Elena Ricci seen running the London Marathon 2025 - an activity on the bucket list Credit: Elena Ricci 8 She says she was left completely numb by his death after her boyfriend struggled to open up about his feelings Credit: SWNS Elena called her local police and was told they would get in touch with police in London, where Chirag's body was later discovered. The pair's relationship had been long-distance for two years. However, desperate for answers, she then asked Chirag's friend to go to the location Chirag had mentioned in the email. Elena says: 'When he called me with the news that a stranger had found a body, my life was turned upside down. "I knew it was him. "The friend managed to get in touch with his family and confirm it was Chirag. It felt like I was in a dream or in a movie, and I was feeling so much that I didn't know how to react. "I was forcing myself to cry." 'Completely numb' Elena was still reeling from the shock when Chirag's letter arrived in the post 48 hours later. Struggling to process her grief, she put the letter in a drawer where it would stay for the next three years. She says: "I felt completely numb, every day felt like a dream for a while. "After the funeral, I completely broke down, and it hit me that he was never coming back. "I was walking through life sleepwalking - I didn't want to face my grief let alone tick off tasks in a letter." It was only in January this year that Elena decided to read Chirag's letter again. He'd asked her to see a grief therapist, and after a few sessions, she began to slowly move forward with her life. Now, three years on from Chirag's death, Elena is finally ticking off tasks on his list that included dying your hair blonde, doing something you hate and picking up a guitar again. Chirag's bucket list for Elena Chirag listed 101 activities in a letter to Elena to complete after his death - Do something you hate - Enjoy your birthday again - Do grief therapy - Dye your hair blonde - Go to Stourhead - Have an Italian summer romance before you're 30 - Ask your mum to arrange a date for you - Go bungee jumping - Play guitar again and actually become good at it - Climb Kilimanjaro One simple task was to enjoy her birthday in May, a milestone she has struggled with since losing her partner. She says: "I enjoyed my birthday for the first time in two years. "Doing my birthday was something I did for other people because they know how much I used to enjoy it. "This year, I did it for myself. "I went to the Ivy restaurant and then visited the Yorkshire Dales with friends - we went to the sauna and hiking." Elena still has mixed feelings about Chirag's requests. She says: I still feel some anger but also grateful - he probably knew I wouldn't want to live anymore,' she says. "I'm re-learning how to live thanks to him. "I've called it my yes list." Whilst some of Chirga's requests may take years to complete, like buying her own house, Elena hopes to keep ticking off the more manageable ones. She adds: "I want to visit the place in Stourhead where Pride and Prejudice was shot. "I've dyed my hair blonde - a bronze blonde - which was also on the list. "I'm happy I've done it. "I feel like a new person, almost." 8 Elena pictured enjoying her birthday in Yorkshire for the first time since Chirag's passing Credit: Elena Ricci 8 Elena says she feels like a new person after taking on the bucket list and loving on with her life Credit: SWNS You're Not Alone EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now. That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign. The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives. Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: CALM, Heads Together, HUMEN Mind, Papyrus, Samaritans,
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
GAA fans outraged after footage shows GAA stars urinating on pitch after game
Donegal stormed into the All-Ireland quarter-finals after a commanding home win over Louth on Sunday in Ballybofey. Jim McGuinness and his players were applauded off as they head for Croke Park next, and the knockout stages. However, some fans have shared their anger at members of the squad on social media after footage surfaced which appears to show players urinating on the pitch in the middle of a team huddle. "Love Donegal but this is disgusting as well as disrespectful," said one fan online. "That's an absolute disgrace," said another. "Surely a public order offence occurring right there," said one Twitter/X user. There were some quick to defend the behaviour, saying it is commonplace on sports grounds when players are unable to get in to the toilet and have taken so much fluid on board. Just last year, a Peruvian footballer, Sebastian Munoz, was sent off for urinating on the pitch during a match in Peru's third tier. In 2017, Salford keeper Max Crocombe was sent off for urinating during a National League North match against Bradford. In 2009, Stuttgart goalkeeper and former Arsenal star Jens Lehmann jumped over the advertising hoardings behind the goal to relieve himself, before he was interrupted when Unirea Urziceni went on a counter-attack and he had to rush back in goal. Gary Lineker famously pooed on the pitch while leading the line for England against Republic of Ireland at World Cup '90. Heading into the game with an upset stomach, Lineker was forced to wipe his shorts on the turf in a moment he would rather forget. In the 2005 London Marathon, Paula Radcliffe was suffering from severe stomach cramps and diarrohea, leading her to stop and relieve herself on the side of the road, in full view of the crowd and live television cameras. She went on to win the race with a time of 2:17:42, a record at the time for a women's only race. Radcliffe later said she had been looking for a toilet, but couldn't find one suitable.
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Gamlins Law directors climbed North Africa's highest peak
Ron Davison, managing director of Gamlins Law, and fellow director Dafydd Roberts, scaled Mount Toubkal in Morocco's Atlas Mountains in aid of the firm's nominated charity partner St Kentigern Hospice. Combined with Ron's running of the London Marathon in April, it means the pair have now raised almost £2,000 for St Asaph-based St Kentigern. Dafydd Roberts and Ron Davison at the top of Mount Toubkal. Ron and Dafydd were part of a 10-strong group that took on the climb to the 4,167m (13,671 ft) peak. Last year, they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania raising more than £3,500 for Prostate Cancer UK and LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector. Dafydd said: "The whole trip was a great experience from spending time with the local Berber community through to the final ascent itself which saw us reach the summit an hour or so after sunrise. "We encountered lots of different weather during the trip from really warm to ice and snow as we approached the summit to torrential rain and hailstones when we were coming down the mountain. Coping with the high altitude also provided a challenge. "Experiencing life with the Berber community, with their villages set in the mountainside, was also something we won't forget, including an evening eating with our guide's family in their home. "It was also humbling to see how the communities are continuing to rebuild after a devastating earthquake caused so much destruction a couple of years ago. "Either side of the climb, we were fortunate to spend time in Marrakesh, including a trip into the Sahara Desert. On our final night we even bumped into the chef Tom Kerridge who was in Marrakesh on holiday!" Dafydd added: "We are delighted to raise further vital funds towards the work of St Kentigern Hospice. The team at the hospice made a video for us wishing us good luck and that certainly helped to spur us on. "We've got further climbs planned in the UK for later this year and are already plotting another trip abroad, possibly to the Alps or Himalayas next year."
