{"id":472803,"date":"2026-03-09T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=472803"},"modified":"2026-03-10T11:10:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T11:10:34","slug":"comedian-elis-james-takes-part-in-dulwich-charity-race-to-break-taboos-around-grief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/dulwich\/comedian-elis-james-takes-part-in-dulwich-charity-race-to-break-taboos-around-grief\/","title":{"rendered":"Comedian Elis James takes part in Dulwich charity race to break taboos around grief"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>A man who lost his wife has taken part in a 100-metre charity race against comedian Elis James in Dulwich to spark conversations around grief, <em>writes Maya Sgaravato-Grant&#8230;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Geraint John, whose wife Deb died of cancer aged 43 while in the care of St Christopher\u2019s Hospice, went head-to-head against his old school friend Elis at half-time during a Dulwich Hamlet home match on Saturday 28 February,&nbsp;<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"nZU8OWeo2\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"RzbrNsEYOy\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/rotherhithe\/lifelong-millwall-fan-fulfils-dying-wish-with-last-visit-to-the-den\/\">Lifelong Millwall fan fulfils dying wish with last visit to The Den<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Lifelong Millwall fan fulfils dying wish with last visit to The Den&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/rotherhithe\/lifelong-millwall-fan-fulfils-dying-wish-with-last-visit-to-the-den\/embed\/#?secret=g0DIuriGsC#?secret=RzbrNsEYOy\" data-secret=\"RzbrNsEYOy\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The event was organised with the aim of collecting \u00a310,000 for the hospice and breaking taboos surrounding loss, at a time where new research commissioned by St Christopher\u2019s found that only one in six UK adults feel comfortable talking to friends and family about grief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dressed in the kit of their respective football clubs, Swansea City supporter Elis won the match against Cardiff City fan Geraint by a small margin, prompting Geraint to issue an apology to his fellow Cardiff supporters &#8211; or \u2018bluebirds\u2019 &#8211; on social media following the event.<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjEwMTc1NjEzIiBjbGFzcz0ic291dGgtY29udGVudCBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50IiBzdHlsZT0ibWFyZ2luLWxlZnQ6IGF1dG87bWFyZ2luLXJpZ2h0OiBhdXRvO3RleHQtYWxpZ246IGNlbnRlcjsiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC0yeDEiPg0KPHNjcmlwdD4NCmdvb2dsZXRhZy5jbWQucHVzaChmdW5jdGlvbigpIHsgZ29vZ2xldGFnLmRpc3BsYXkoJ2Rpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxJyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgICAgICAgPC9kaXY+<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Geraint expressed his happiness that everyone \u2018pulled together and got some cash for an incredible organisation.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a introduction to his fundraiser, he said: \u201cDebs meant the world to me.&nbsp;<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjUxNjIzODI5OCIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis run is for her and for the hospice that held us up when we were falling apart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Geraint has been speaking publicly about the experience of loss after his wife&#8217;s death in 2022, and has encouraged others to talk more openly about bereavement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was this openness which prompted Elis James to get in touch, and the old friends have since rekindled a strong bond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Donate to their fundraiser here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/st-christophers-bjopsice?attribution_id=sl:e7016ae5-cd13-41ce-85c0-2eccd8263d0f&amp;lang=en_GB&amp;ts=1771430901&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fundraiser by Geraint John : St Christopher\u2019s Hospice<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjAxMTY1NzEzNCIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>St Christopher&#8217;s next fundraising campaign: <a href=\"https:\/\/fundraising.stchristophers.org.uk\/event\/fun-walk?_ga=2.3071408.1628425946.1773046774-1064048780.1762184350\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fun Walk 2026<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"oGlLsuxOUkqVp1h8Pk9RMAnQmjBL1J2cC7OhIEmb2gW3DeZSG58XI0EdNYaX5MT\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"st1nckhRYw\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/dulwich\/dulwich-hamlet-fcs-4000-capacity-stadium-renovation-has-been-approved\/\">Dulwich Hamlet FC&#8217;s 4,000-capacity stadium renovation has been approved<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Dulwich Hamlet FC&#8217;s 4,000-capacity stadium renovation has been approved&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/dulwich\/dulwich-hamlet-fcs-4000-capacity-stadium-renovation-has-been-approved\/embed\/#?secret=Rkb3Y7CFSe#?secret=st1nckhRYw\" data-secret=\"st1nckhRYw\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A man who lost his wife has taken part in a 100-metre charity race against comedian Elis James in Dulwich to spark conversations around grief, writes Maya Sgaravato-Grant&#8230; Geraint John, whose wife Deb died of cancer aged 43 while in the care of St Christopher\u2019s Hospice, went head-to-head against his old school friend Elis at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18930,"featured_media":472807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"St Christopher\u2019s found that only one in six UK adults feel comfortable talking to friends and family about grief."},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"84"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[7375,84,13539,13602],"tags":[9706],"class_list":["post-472803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-dulwich","category-featured","category-news","tag-dhfc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18930"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=472803"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":473320,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/472803\/revisions\/473320"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/472807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=472803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=472803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=472803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}