Why I'm running for Cancer Research Wales: Laura's Story

Why did you choose to run for Cancer Research Wales in the Cardiff Half Marathon?

Cancer affects so many people worldwide and so, when I was signing up for the Half Marathon I was immediately drawn to Cancer Research Wales. After reading about Cancer Research Wales and seeing what their funding goes towards to support research and treatments, it was no question for me that I was going to be running for them!

Have you had experience of cancer in your family or among your friends?

Sadly, some of the people closest to me have had to battle cancer and unfortunately my grandpa and my dad lost that battle. My dad passed away at the end of August 2024 from a very short battle with bowel and liver cancer. The cancer was one of the most aggressive forms of cancer, and unfortunately he had no symptoms until about a month or two before his passing.

Had you done something like this before?

This was my first half-marathon. I had never really tried running before signing up for the half-marathon but after signing up for the half-marathon I really fell in love with running.

How much training did you have to do?

I would run about once or twice a week. Training would usually consist of interval training, shorter runs (5k) or longer runs (10k-15k). I have always had a passion for the gym so kept this up alongside the running. I incorporated more single leg exercises to reduce my risk of injury from running and focused more on mobility work, especially for my hips.

Was the training and the run challenging?

I must say the atmosphere on the day of the half-marathon was incredible and made the run so much easier! The adrenaline rush from all the cheering and support was nothing like I have ever experienced before.

How did you keep yourself motivated?

There were days where I didn’t feel like going for a run and some days where I just couldn’t wait! There were days where my sessions went so well but also days where they weren’t so good. However, knowing that I was running for such an important cause and running for the people closest to me, this was all the motivation that I needed.

What did taking part in the Cardiff Half Marathon mean to you?

Taking part in the Cardiff half-marathon already meant a lot to me as it was my first ever half-marathon and for my family members that had sadly gone through cancer. However, this meant so much more after the sudden passing of my dad. I knew that both my dad and my grandpa was with me every step of the way cheering me on!

Did you have lots of support from your friends and family?

I was lucky enough to have mum, brother and boyfriend come up from Cornwall, along with my grandparents and some of our closest family friends. I was also fortunate enough to have my uni housemates and friends from Bristol cheer me on along. I really couldn’t have done it without them!

What’s the key to fundraising as successfully as you?

The amount of money that has been raised is incredible but all I can say is that this was down to the kind hearts of our friends and family. The amount of money raised wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for people’s generosity and I thank everyone who donated.

Well done, Laura – we’re all very proud of you.