We recently received the letter published below – take a read and you will see that Sophie is running a half marathon in memory of her Uncle Steve, a lifelong Rovers supporter, who introduced her to The Gas
Sophie is raising funds for St Peter’s Hospice and we wish her well with her fundraising efforts.
Dear Bristol Rovers
My name is Sophie, and I’m running the London Landmarks Half Marathon in less than 10 weeks in memory of my hero – my Uncle Steve – who was a lifelong, dedicated Bristol Rovers fan.
Uncle Steve took me to my first ever football match, and of course it was to see Rovers. From that day on, the club has always reminded me of him – his passion, his loyalty, and the joy he got from following the team through all the ups and downs.
We sadly lost him recently, and during his final days he was cared for by St Peter’s Hospice in Bristol. The way they looked after him – with dignity, compassion and genuine kindness – as well as supporting our whole family, is something I will never forget.
Because of this, I’m raising money for St Peter’s Hospice in his memory. Thanks to an amazing fundraising concert I organised with my singing students, plus a raffle and donations, we’ve already raised close to £1,000 for the Hospice. Every penny goes to helping other families, like ours, at the most difficult time of their lives.
The London Landmarks Half Marathon takes place on 12th April 2026, and I will be;
- Wearing a Bristol Rovers shirt proudly for Uncle Steve and for the club
- With the number 22 (his birthday was 22nd August) and either ‘Uncle Steve’ or simply ‘Steve’ on the back.
Being able to run in a Rovers shirt personalised for him means absolutely everything to me and to my family. It would feel like I’m taking a piece of him – and his beloved club – with me every step of the way through London.
Here is my JustGiving page with more details about my challenge and Uncle Steve’s story:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/sophielondonlandmarkshalfmarathon?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=020
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.
With warmest wishes,
Sophie