In February 2020, just before the pandemic hit, Francesca's mum Jane was diagnosed with a brain tumour and treated by the Neurology team at King’s College Hospital.
Francesca is a familiar face at King's. She works across multiple wards as a physiotherapist, assisting patients in rehabilitation after injury or illness.
"It was as a strange situation, having my Mum at King's with this awful diagnosis, but reassuring in a way because I knew the team," says Francesca.
"My Mum was 77 years old and despite her age, she was never discriminated against at King's, and she was offered all treatment options.
Sadly, Jane passed away in August 2020. To honour her memory, Francesca pledged to give something back to the team that helped her Mum, by signing up to a challenge event to raise money for King's College Hospital Charity.
"I am running in memory of Mum, but I am also running to say thank you to the staff for their amazing COVID-19 response," she says.
"A lot of the oncology nurses were redeployed during the pandemic and were juggling their responsibilities in their own ward, as well as helping out on COVID-19 wards.
On 1 August 2021, Francesca will be running for Team King's in the London Landmarks Half Marathon - a 13.1 mile race through the City of London and Westminster.
She has been clocking up her training miles by pushing her one-year-old daughter, Martha, around the neighbourhood in her buggy.
"The race will definitely be a challenge," says Francesca.
"I have always been a bit of a runner- when I grew up I did lots of athletics and that was ‘my sport’ and I was a member of a running club. Nowadays with three children, I can’t do as much as I would like to.
"Everyone has being really generous with their donations and support.