Tag Archives: London Marathon

Business, Charity Events

Charity Cath raises thousands for cancer

Swansea’s Catherine Robinson, account executive at Howden’s south Wales office, has raised £4,833 for multiple cancer care charities since April 2023.

Starting with the London Marathon in 2023, Catherine raised £3,453 for Young Lives vs Cancer. The following year, she ran the 2024 Edinburgh Marathon for the same charity, raising £1,130 and additionally raised £250 for Macmillan Cancer Support through taking part in its Marathon Hike in July of this year.

Catherine will be running the London Marathon once again to raise funds for Young Lives vs Cancer in April 2025.

On why fundraising for these charities is so important to her, Catherine said: “I am in true amazement of Young Lives vs Cancer and their work. When completing the London Marathon in 2023, I was greeted by an inspiring young volunteer who had a terminal brain tumour, and this was the moment I knew I had to help the charity as much as I could. The charity has given me so much support both in mindset of running 26.2 miles and raising the funds.

“My fundraising for Macmillan was more of a personal story. My mam beat cancer in 2021 under the support of Macmillan, but we sadly then lost my stepdad suddenly to cancer in June 2023. So, when my friend asked me to do the marathon hike this year which fell on my stepdad’s birthday, I knew I couldn’t say no. While this was emotional to complete on such an important date, it was an honour to give something back to the charity and play a part in helping those who need it in the future.

Catherine’s boss Gary Stevens, Regional Managing Director at Howden Wales, said: “We are incredibly proud and in awe of Catherine and everything she has managed to do for these charities. We support her every step of the way and strongly encourage anyone who can to donate via her Enthuse page. We wish her all the best with London 2025.”

You can support Catherine’s fundraising for Young Lives vs Cancer here.

News

Burton business owner raising money for local charity by taking part in 2022 London Marathon

The 2022 London Marathon takes place  2nd  October with up to 50,000 runners taking part. Anna Stubbs, Marketing and HR Director at The Chartwell Practice in Burton-upon-Trent, applied for many years before striking lucky when a place opened up for her via the Washlands Women’s Runners Club ballot.

She teamed up with Burton-Upon-Trent’s YMCA, so that her efforts can help support the local community. Before she embarks on her second marathon of 2022, she reflected upon her journey so far and what lies ahead.

Anna said: “I arrived late to the joys of running and I’m by no means gifted with natural talent. Sometimes, I don’t feel like getting the trainers on, or it feels really slow going and just hard work. But like a lot of people, the habit of getting out for a run regularly helps me in more ways than I would ever have predicted.”

Whether it is a couple of muddy miles over the fields with her dog, or a run with friends, Anna always returned home feeling both physically and mentally boosted. For years, she bravely put her name in the ballot for a chance to run the London Marathon and was never selected. After years of bad luck, she plucked up the courage to tackle the big distance in a different city – Manchester. With her first marathon under her belt in April, little did she know that 2022 would turn out to be a double marathon year!

Anna added: “At the last possible second, an extra place was given to The Washlands Women’s Runners Club as a bonus for them sending a marshal team to London and my name was drawn out!

“I couldn’t believe it!”

Her marathon training began during the summer heatwave, with Covid-related hitches in between, she is now just days away from the starting line. October is also an important month for YMCA Burton with their annual Sleep Out event taking place at Burton Albion Football Club’s Pirelli Stadium.

Paul Laffey, CEO at YMCA Burton, added: “Everyone at YMCA Burton wishes Anna lots of luck for this year’s marathon. Undertaking the training for the London Marathon is no mean feat and we appreciate the hours of running Anna has already done to prepare for this challenge.

“She joins our other marathon runner Chris in raising much needed funds for our charity. As everyone is struggling with the cost of living crisis, this will help us towards supporting our clients and members of the local community.”

Anna added: “I have been aware of the really important work that the YMCA do in Burton for some years now, as we have supported them at Chartwell’s, and I know that the care and provision for people in crisis is desperately needed. If I can help raise some funding for them I’d be really delighted.”

Anna’s Go Fund Me page can be found here: Anna Stubbs is fundraising for YMCA Burton (justgiving.com)