Hello! ¡Hola! 👋

Or... Olá! As Susana would've said 🤗

Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Celia, originally from a sunny spot in southern Spain called Málaga ☀️ However, when it comes to where home truly resides, it has to be London. Ever since I moved here in 2009, its chaotic charm has ensnared me.

Now, let's talk about Susana 💃 She's a Portuguese whirlwind with an unapologetically flamboyant and active personality, and her furry daughter, Gwyn 🐶 If you've had the pleasure of meeting them, you've likely encountered their matching costumes and contagious energy at various events—whether sports-related or social gatherings. They've transformed from Wonder Women to Batwomen, and donned Santa Claus outfits as soon as the season started 🎅

Our paths first intersected back in 2016 during the heyday of fitness events and running clubs in London 🏋️‍♀️🏃‍♀️ Our friendship blossomed. I discovered that Susana was a breast cancer survivor, and she wore her fitness, health, and active lifestyle like a badge of honour—truly a Super Susana 🦸

Fast forward a few years, and cancer reared its head again. St Bartholomew's Hospital became a familiar place for Susana 🏥 Initially, her battle to keep the cancer at bay was relatively calm. But over time, things grew more erratic, and additional health issues emerged. I wanted to help, but the constraints of a 9-to-5 job limited my weekday availability. Then, fate (or perhaps misfortune) intervened—I was made redundant in January 2024. Suddenly, I had the freedom to assist Susana with anything and everything she needed 🤸

St Bartholomew's Hospital became her second home, and I became a frequent visitor. We'd chat in our unique blend of Portuñol, reminiscing about food from our respective homelands or sharing our latest musical obsessions. Occasionally, we'd throw impromptu parties with glow sticks or Easter eggs, and even the hospital staff joined in at times 🤗

Running was a recurring topic. Susana often expressed how much she missed it. She'd been fortunate (actually, fast enough! ⚡) to secure a spot in the London Marathon back in 2018 😄 As for me, I'd never run it, but I always made sure to cheer on the inspiring participants during that fabulous event 📣🥁🎉

Tragically, Susana's adventures came to an end on June 1st, 2024. To honour her spirit, I've committed to running the London Marathon in 2025—the Susana way 🤩🥳 Leading up to April 27th, 2025, expect training updates and heartfelt stories about what Susana meant to me and the world.

All the funds raised will go to Barts Charity, an institution that provided a silver lining during the toughest of times. My hope is that other patients, friends, and family can continue to feel its warm embrace.

Thank you infinitely for reading and supporting!