Dear colleagues and friends,

I am Linda Du, a proud member of the CSL Seqirus Global Commercial Development team. I am reaching out to you today to share an exciting and meaningful endeavor I am undertaking and to ask for your support.

On April 29, 2025, I will be running the London Marathon to raise funds for Thames Hospices on behalf of our CSL Seqirus Maidenhead office. I came to the fundraising piece pretty late, but I am glad this is happening, thank you for the sponsorship from Carolyn Ratcliff and support from Amy Smith!

My journey to becoming a marathon runner began during the pandemic, a time when running became a newfound passion for me. Before then, I didn't even know the distance of a marathon! Now, as a woman in my 40s, I am in my fourth year of marathon training, preparing for my fifth marathon and second international race.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have the support of my family—my husband and son—as well as my colleagues in Summit, NJ and globally, whom I see every day in TEAM calls. I'm also grateful for my running group, Love to Run. As a late bloomer, I can assure you that running a marathon is challenging, and every mile is tough, especially after mile 20. However, it’s never too late to start running, and it can get better even for those of us over 40! I achieved my personal best, running 3 hours, 47 minutes, and 2 seconds in Berlin last October (thank you for the support from the German team!)

Training for the London Marathon this winter has been especially tough, with wind and snow making it even more challenging. I lost my right earbud in the snow once, and finding a white earbud in white snow was quite the task! Despite these cold, windy, and brutal days, I count my blessings and am grateful for the support of my friends, colleagues, and family. Since January 1, 2025, I have logged 400 miles, and I'm still counting.

I consider myself fortunate to work in public health, a cause that aligns with my personal aspirations. I am proud to be part of the global teams, alongside many colleagues in clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, and commercial, bringing Fluad and Flucelvax, our differentiated flu brands, to those in need. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, running became my outlet to reflect internally and manage stress.

Thank you for supporting my race and Thames Hospices for our Seqirus Maidenhead office. Your support means the world to me. If you would like to make a donation, please visit my JustGiving page.