Hi, my name is Mariam Sani and I am running the Hackney Half Marathon on Sunday 19th May 2024, and raising money for Shelter.

Why May 2024 is most significant to me? 🕊️

This May marks the 10 year anniversary of my mum’s passing, when we lost her suddenly and “unprepared” mentally from cancer. All happened so quick within 6 months from her diagnosis to her passing, that to this day it’s hard to accept and comprehend. So this May, I want to honour my mum with something big, something which takes me out of my comfort.

Why Running? 🏃🏽‍♀️

So, what made me start running? At the back of my mind in 2022, I knew my mum’s 10 year passing was approaching and I wanted to do something big or challenging to honour her. My mum loved painting, that was her true love and passion and our house was full of her beautiful art. Mum would show all her feelings and emotions through her paintings. Throughout her illness the only thing mum wanted to do was paint. In April 2014 her lovely work colleagues managed to secure a gallery for mum to exhibit her paintings and art to the public, with the exhibition also being broadcasted on ITV News!

So what a better way to honor mum than do an exhibition in London for her memory and showcase her amazing talent and passion. This dream quickly collapsed as myself and my brother were not able to get hold of her amazing work! That is still disappointing and difficult to swallow, however I couldn’t let one idea not let me to do that big and challenging thing in May that would honour her memory. Fast forward to October 2022 I went to support my brother’s mother in law as she was running the Royal Parks Half Marathon for a charity and a small seed was planted in my head to “maybe” do such an event. I remember mentioning to my bro (a very good long distance runner from the 90s!) at the time “hey how about if we run together to similar event, not sure I can do it but even if I can walk it, it doesn’t matter, I will have my inhaler with me”. And that was the only thing that was said and left like that….BUT the seed was planted in my mind….

side note: I did NOT run before, not even any type of distance, 5km for me was a BIG distance, my asthma would always humble me even if I tried to run for the train or to that matter laugh out loud, I would sound like Darth Vader and always needing my inhaler! My friends will ask me to try a park run with them, and my answer would always be “hell no” as I knew the consequences and the disappointment if I didn’t push my self 100% ….. as an ex-pole vault athlete (yes the ego!) not giving it my all I would disappoint my self… but we have learned and grown! ps: above is a picture of me on a nebuliser sounding and looking like Darth Vader.

As we were having our annual Christmas get together at my friend Leila’s, I am not sure how we got into it (possibly need to take control of our health and start some exercise – new years resolutions!) but I agreed to try a park run.

On the 21st January 2023 I did my first ever park run, nerves were fairly high and my inhaler tight in hand. First park run wasn’t that bad, inhaler was not needed and that triggered my curiosity on whether I could go faster. After a break (one step at a time!) from park run (after the 1st run 🫢), on 25th March 2023 a pivotal moment turned my mindset and that was the start of my running journey. I attended Park Run weekly no fail, I would set time goals and smash PBs almost on a weekly basis – I went from a 36:32 to 26:03 by November 2023! Say what? And to this day, no inhaler was taken or harmed in the process.

November marked my first ever 10km run with High Performers Run Club and then jumped in to a 24km with Scrambled Legs Run Club two days before Christmas Day!!! My mind was blown really, I did not expect to manage such a long distance and this is what I needed to get me comfortable with my May 2024 important run and mission. So there I was, I managed to book my place for the Hackney Half Marathon May 2024, running for the amazing charity Shelter.

ps: A massive THANK YOU to park run and both run clubs for all you do for the running community and keeping us motivated and running on a weekly basis! 🙏🏽

Why Shelter? 🏠

Someone will think, ok why run for Shelter, a homelessness charity rather than a cancer related charity? Well, the housing crisis and cost of living crisis has pushed so many families into poverty and homelessness which is truly shocking.

I have worked in the Affordable and Social Housing Sector for +16 years, being a Trustee member for another big homelessness charity, I understand the need for funding to be able to allow these great charities to provide the services needed to those who are truly vulnerable.

My mum always said “having a roof over your head is the most important thing anyone can have to feel secure”. So this is my reason on why I am raising funding for Shelter.

I hope my story gives you a background on my purpose and why I am fundraising for Shelter.

I would love if you could kindly donate as small or big as you feel! Thank you 😊

Mariam