"It’s what she would have wanted": Josh’s ultra marathon challenge in memory of Nan
Whitchurch man Josh Galea is taking on the challenge of a lifetime, aiming to complete a solo ultra marathon in memory of his beloved Nan who helped raise him.
Mary Lerway passed away in October 2023 after a prolonged end-of-life journey. Now Josh, 31, will run an ambitious 120 kilometres in 24 hours to raise awareness of the importance of palliative care and the support provided by hospices.
As well as raising awareness, Josh who lives in Whitchurch with wife Harlie, is taking on the incredible feat – the equivalent of almost three marathons - to raise money for local charity St Peter’s Hospice to help ensure other families can receive the compassionate palliative care his grandmother needed.
“Unfortunately, the end of my Nan’s life was very difficult, not only for her, but also for the wider family who had to care for her,” said Josh. “A dignified and comfortable death is so, so important and that’s why I’m doing this challenge. It’s what my Nan would have wanted me to do.”
Josh lived with Mary and his mum Lisa after his parents divorced when he was young. “She picked me up from school, cooked my tea, and helped raise me,” he said. Mary was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in her teens and multiple sclerosis (MS) at 50 and later in life when her symptoms became more difficult to manage, she moved in with Lisa and Josh.
As her health declined, Josh became her informal carer - driving her to appointments, collecting medication, and helping however he could. “I didn’t realise it at the time, but I was a carer. We were all doing what we could to help her but we weren’t professionals, we had no idea what to do really.”
By 2020 Mary was bedbound, in and out of hospital and suffering with pain and bed sores. The family struggled through a harrowing 12-month period where she was effectively end-of-life.
“It was a constant cycle of pain and being sent home,” Josh recalls. “Between myself, my mum, my wife and my stepdad we did our best but none of us are medically trained and we were almost too close to the situation."
Mary was first seen by nurses from St Peter’s Hospice 48 hours before she died. Josh said that within an hour of them arriving the whole situation improved and the family could breathe a sigh of relief. “It put us at ease knowing that she was being looked after, and it allowed us to say goodbye to her peacefully.”
Mary Lerway died aged 85, the day after her daughter’s 60th birthday. Lisa had been encouraged by her mum to go and visit her brother in Australia and it was during this trip that Mary passed away. “I’m sure Nan waited for my Mum to go on her trip, it was meant to be that way,” said Josh.
Now, Josh is channelling his grief into action. On 25 and 26 October 2025 he will run an incredible 120km in 24 hours to raise money for St Peter’s Hospice, whose support in those final hours made a difference.
He said: “I couldn’t even run 5km not so long ago so to be training for an ultra marathon is a big deal for me. I’ve had no choice but to train as I’m not a runner, I hate running in fact! I spent my whole life playing ice hockey for Bristol but I had to stop when I started caring for Nan. My biggest win so far has been 50km in one go – I’m completely winging it!”
Josh is raising money for St Peter’s Hospice, Bristol’s only adult hospice, which provides care to people with life-limiting illnesses in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. It costs £30,000 to run the Hospice every day but all care is provided to patients and families free of charge.
To support Joshua’s journey and donate, visit: Fundraiser by Joshua Galea : Running 120km in 24hrs
For more information visit St Peter's Hospice
