Actress runs London Marathon to honor friend's husband

Actress Lisa McGrillis is preparing to run the TCS London Marathon with her best friend, Mary Cann. They are raising money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in memory of Mary's late husband, Nigel Cann, who died from a heart attack at the age of 47 last year. McGrillis, known for her role in the TV show "Rivals," shared that this marathon is a way to support Mary during her grief. She said, “There’s nothing anyone can say or do to make the situation any better," explaining that this effort makes her feel useful. Despite facing injuries during training, she sees this as an important mission. Nigel Cann died suddenly while living in Abu Dhabi, after saying goodnight to his daughters. McGrillis noted that the shock of his death was overwhelming, as there were no warning signs. She described Nigel as a wonderful person, saying he had a magnetic energy that made him well-loved. Mary decided to run the marathon just three weeks after Nigel’s passing, which surprised McGrillis. She committed to training alongside her friend to show her support. Both women, who have a long-standing friendship, live in different countries, but training together has helped them stay connected. Neither McGrillis nor Cann were regular long-distance runners before this, and training has proven challenging. McGrillis admitted she pushed herself too hard and is now focused on simply finishing the race. Their families are also planning to cheer them on during the marathon. They are raising money for the BHF because heart and circulatory diseases are major health issues in the UK, accounting for many deaths each year. McGrillis emphasized their goal is to help prevent other families from experiencing similar pain. They hope their efforts will support vital research to save lives.