Tributes paid to Bingham runner Stephen Shanks who died on his way home from completing the London Marathon
Tributes have been paid to a runner who died while travelling home after running the London Marathon on Sunday.
Stephen Shanks, from Bingham, died suddenly hours after he had completed the 26.2-mile distance in two hours, 53 minutes and 26 seconds.
The 45-year-old, a member of the Holme Pierrepont Running Club, was raising money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and a GoFundMe page has now been set up in his memory.
His wife, Jess Shanks, paid tribute in a post on the running club’s Facebook page.
She said: “It’s with great sadness that I wish to announce the loss of my wonderful husband, Stephen Shanks. His passing was sudden and out of the blue.
“He was returning home having spent the day participating in the London Marathon.
“As you can imagine I’m absolutely in shock and devastated.”
The running club took to its website to share its tribute and stated it was “shocked” and “saddened” to learn of the passing of “our friend Steve”.
It added: “He will be hugely missed and we offer our heartfelt condolences to our friend, his wife Jess.”
The TCS London Marathon also paid tribute to the runner.
In a statement, organisers said: “Everyone at London Marathon Events was deeply saddened to hear about the sudden death of Steve Shanks as he travelled home on Sunday 23 April after taking part in the London Marathon.”
Steve was raising money for the MS Society by running the marathon, as it was a “cause close to his heart”, as described on the fundraising page set up in his memory by Matthew Clapp.
Matthew said: “Steve was a keen runner never happier than running anything, from his local Parkrun, to the Bob Graham Round.
“But he was more than just a runner, he was musician, a knitter, and a renowned quizzer possessed of extensive knowledge of terrible pop music.
“He was a loving husband and soulmate of his wife Jess, treasured son and son in law, and a much loved friend.
“He will be greatly missed and always in our hearts and memories.”
The cause of his death has not yet been confirmed.
