Helen’s Torbay 10k

An update from Helen ahead of her run on Sunday 20th September:

‘So here I am about to embark on my second 10k run this year…. How has that happened?

When Geoff said he was going to run 50 half marathons in his 50th year I thought how on earth are you going to fit that in with everything else in our busy family lives, but he has and I’m so proud of him.

So that started me thinking about what could I do to help him with his fundraising… a bit of sharing on social media, taking photos, finding events to run in.

I started to look at Rowcroft Hospice in more detail, reading the amazing stories from people and families they have helped. I also saw how they only are partially funded by the NHS (24%) and that the rest comes from the local community. It spurred me on even more to help!

I remember my friend Sharon having a respite stay during her illness and the kindness everyone there provided to her, her family and friends.

As is always said, we never know when we or those dearest to us may need services such as Rowcroft’s… sadly in the last few years we have lost friends and family far too young.

If I can drag myself around a 10k race to help make someone else’s life or, more likely, end of life that little bit calmer, painless and surrounded by people who care, then that’s what I will be doing on Sunday 20th September in Torbay. I will be happy in the thought I only have to do one loop while Geoff will be doing two! 😂

Please, if you are able to donate Geoff & I would be very grateful and so would Rowcroft Hospice.

If you will be in the bay next Sunday please give us a cheer to motivate us on and look out for the red faced me in photos later next Sunday afternoon!’

8.9.26

Wow, 45 down and only 5 to go! For the first time, the end of this incredible journey seems within touching distance. Over the last month I have received some huge donations which have propelled me to within a few hundred pounds of my £5,000 target, THANK YOU!

Number 42 & Number 43 On holiday in North Devon. Braunton Burrows & the Tarka Trail, and then Braunton to Woolacombe, back along the coast path. Enjoyed running in a different part of this amazing county.

Number 44 - wow! A trip to Bristol, running from close to the M%, up the River Avon and then back the other side, having crossed the Clifton Suspension Bridge

Number 45 - enjoyed my Bristol trip last week so came back again! This time running from the Eastern edge of Bristol to Bath and back again.

Looking forward to half Number 46 this Sunday, running the Northampton Half Marathon with my Niece Emily...

11.8.26

Another month closer to my mileage and fundraising totals. My Strava update through JustGiving show my total mileage passing the 1,000 miles barrier! And I only linked my running account to the fundraising one after a few months.

Number 38 Newton Abbot to Torquay and back

Number 39 Thanks to Corinne Bright who guided me along a route she has run with Teignbridge Trotters chums before uo one side of the River Teign to Shaldon and then back along the other side via Bishopsteignton.

Number 40 A very hilly but picturesque route along the River Dart from Totnes, Sharpham, Ashprington and Harberton.

Number 41 Teingmouth, Holcombe & Shaldon.

Into single figures now - just 9 to go!

Some azing donations recently have taken me over the £4,000 barrier (in fact, with Gift Aid, over £5,000!) I couldn't do this without all your amazing support, thank you 😍

11.7.26

On my travels...

Number 37 completed yesterday in and around Buckfastleigh before work. The halves over the last few months have been hot, hot, hot! No. 36 was along the River Exe from near Poltimore to Thorverton. No. 35 was during a short break away in Dorset. No. 34, Dawlish to Powderham. No. 33 a stunning trek while on holiday in Menorca - that was almost as hot as the UK! No 32 in Cornwall, from Hayle to Redruth.

31.5.26

No 30, Great West Run: wow, what a hot one! Thanks to all those showering us with hoses and water pistols. Helen completed her first competitive 10k 🙂

No 31, Buckfast to South Brent and back. Hilly route but great countryside views along the way.

Broken the £3,000 barrier - thanks everyone, you keep me going 🥳

20.5.26

Plymouth Half completed, number 29, and Great West Run this Sunday for number 30. 100 amazing donations taking my total to £2,785 plus another £558 in gift aid. Thank you!

20.4.26

Half way there! What an incredible run on Saturday, 20 laps of Buckfast Abbey, joined by family and colleagues, a real boost for the second half of my fundraising. Another £300 over the weekend has taken me past the half way point in fundraising as well the number of halves. On the home straight now, just 25 to go!!

Rowcroft Hospice is an incredible charity, supporting those suffering from life-limiting illnesses and their families, at home or at Rowcroft itself free of charge. Staff dedicate themselves to supporting others, giving specialist nursing care to over 2,500 people each year.

Through my work at Buckfast Abbey, I have met many of these wonderful staff and heard stories from the loved ones of those who have benefited from everything Rowcroft has to offer. As I get older and begin to lose some of those dear to me, the efforts of Hospices like Rowcroft become even more of an inspiration.

As a keen runner, approaching my 50th birthday, I felt that I needed a special challenge to mark this milestone. An inspiring first competitive run abroad in Palma Majorca was the catalyst for this goal and if all goes well, I will be returning back to Majorca to compete in my 50th half marathon just days after my 50th birthday. In order to achieve this, I will need to run a half marathon nearly every week. A few of these will be competitive runs but the majority will be just me, Devon lanes and 13.1 miles (and this winter, a headtorch!)