Starlight Children’s Foundation

Lyndsey's page

Lyndsey Hookway

Lyndsey Hookway

My Story

I'm running the Royal Parks Half 2025 AND London Marathon 2026 as part of Team Starlight!

As a paediatric nurse, I was used to supporting families through scary and lonely times in hospital - I never thought it would happen to our family. But in 2016, my bubbly 3-year-old, Filly, became critically unwell with sepsis, and was subsequently diagnosed with cancer.

Through 26 months of treatment, multiple hospital admissions and procedures, play specialists, clowns and other skilled people helped Filly to cling on to being a kid at a time that was often frightening, and that no adult should have to put up with, let alone a young child.

I remember one time, she developed liver and kidney toxicity after high dose chemo, and was utterly miserable. The only person who could get her to smile was Dr Yo-Ho-Ho from the department of Giggleology - a brilliant hospital clown. The support continued after cancer too. Once in remission, there were online play sessions for both Filly and her older sister during COVID - these were invaluable.

On a personal note, as the mother of a frequently hospitalised child, I couldn't get out much. Running, since the end of cancer 6 years ago, has been a massive part of showing sickness the door. As someone who came to running in her 40's, I've had more than my fair share of injuries! I'm recovering from RED-S, which left me vulnerable to many injuries, including a torn hamstring, torn calf, torn achilles, and a stress fracture. I am absolutely determined that 2026 is my year though and am working hard on my fuelling, as well as strength trianing and cross training on top of running.

Any donation you can spare would encourage me so much. I'm proud to run for Starlight, who have supported our family enormously. I'm running for Filly, and I'm running on behalf of all the other 'cancer mums' who can't - because they're at their child's bedside.

The healing power of play

At first glance, it’s easy to think that play happens when the important stuff is taken care of. But for children, play is central to the way they learn and cope with new challenges. ​

​That’s why Starlight are committed to making play matter so much, it becomes an intrinsic part of every child’s healthcare pathway. They want to create a world where it’s official policy that play is a prerequisite on every child’s medical treatment plan. ​

Starlight are there to help all decision-makers understand the importance of play, leading thinking on its potential for positive impact, with the science to back it up.

 

Starlight Children’s Foundation

Raising for:

Starlight Children’s Foundation
84%

Funded

  • Target
    £5,000
  • Raised so far
    £4,199
  • Number of donors
    13

My Story

I'm running the Royal Parks Half 2025 AND London Marathon 2026 as part of Team Starlight!

As a paediatric nurse, I was used to supporting families through scary and lonely times in hospital - I never thought it would happen to our family. But in 2016, my bubbly 3-year-old, Filly, became critically unwell with sepsis, and was subsequently diagnosed with cancer.

Through 26 months of treatment, multiple hospital admissions and procedures, play specialists, clowns and other skilled people helped Filly to cling on to being a kid at a time that was often frightening, and that no adult should have to put up with, let alone a young child.

I remember one time, she developed liver and kidney toxicity after high dose chemo, and was utterly miserable. The only person who could get her to smile was Dr Yo-Ho-Ho from the department of Giggleology - a brilliant hospital clown. The support continued after cancer too. Once in remission, there were online play sessions for both Filly and her older sister during COVID - these were invaluable.

On a personal note, as the mother of a frequently hospitalised child, I couldn't get out much. Running, since the end of cancer 6 years ago, has been a massive part of showing sickness the door. As someone who came to running in her 40's, I've had more than my fair share of injuries! I'm recovering from RED-S, which left me vulnerable to many injuries, including a torn hamstring, torn calf, torn achilles, and a stress fracture. I am absolutely determined that 2026 is my year though and am working hard on my fuelling, as well as strength trianing and cross training on top of running.

Any donation you can spare would encourage me so much. I'm proud to run for Starlight, who have supported our family enormously. I'm running for Filly, and I'm running on behalf of all the other 'cancer mums' who can't - because they're at their child's bedside.

The healing power of play

At first glance, it’s easy to think that play happens when the important stuff is taken care of. But for children, play is central to the way they learn and cope with new challenges. ​

​That’s why Starlight are committed to making play matter so much, it becomes an intrinsic part of every child’s healthcare pathway. They want to create a world where it’s official policy that play is a prerequisite on every child’s medical treatment plan. ​

Starlight are there to help all decision-makers understand the importance of play, leading thinking on its potential for positive impact, with the science to back it up.