A daily challenge
The challenge’s tally means Sarah needs to maintain at least 7km each day in May, in between family life and demands. She’s running to support The Charity and for her beloved husband Chris, who was diagnosed with an astrocytoma brain tumour in March 2023, after suffering a seizure while working away in Holland.
Since then, Chris has endured two surgeries and three rounds of chemotherapy, and his strength is an inspiration to family and friends.
“When he was diagnosed, he was on his own, away from me and the kids – we had to facetime the news. It was brutal,” says Sarah.
Buoyed on by support from Chris, their two children Lucas nine, and Ava 12, and family and friends, Sarah is halfway through the challenge and has already raised over £7,000 in donations.
Support from family and friends
“I didn’t realise we knew that many people to be fair but we do have lots of family and we used to live in Saudia Arabia and we’ve been back a few years now and people still living there have helps. We’ve had friends from Alaska, all over the place donate. With things and cost of living being so expensive right now I thought I’ll just put the target at £500 and i just can’t believe it. People were donating before I even started and I thought I’m going to have to complete it now!
Chris plans to join Sarah towards the finish and Lucas and Ava are also joining in.
“Ava’s 12 but running isn’t her natural thing. She’s a dancer but she has been coming out with me. I think she’d rather be doing back flips alongside me to be honest. Whereas with my son Lucas football is life, so he does some speed training at a local club and he already enjoys it. He’s got a competitive nature to him so he’s always asking about the stats, the times and stuff. He’s giving me a run for my money with the pace and he’s half the size of me!
“And Chris used to love running, we’ve done a couple of half marathons together over the years, he’s always been super fit. He can’t do what he used to do now but I think we’ve inspired him to get out walking, and we’ll do the last kilometre or something, so we all finish together.
“The amount of offers of people being running partners has been great, from friends, from my great timing as sister who’s been out with me. It’s been good timing as the last few months things have been particularly challenging for us as Chris has started more chemotherapy.
“He has a strength that is amazing, you wouldn’t know despite the pain he’s in every day. He’s an inspiration.”
Sarah’s fundraising continues to soar.