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London Marathon - Zoe Russell

Zoe Russell, Public Health Midwife at CHFT

How did you feel when you found out you'd secured a place in the London Marathon thought CHFT Charity? 

I honestly couldn’t believe it! I kept reading the email over and over, had a little cry and then a happy dance. I ran the London Marathon in 2012 for a charity but have been applying every year since 2011!! There is something so special about this event that I just cannot put into words and to now represent the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Charity and the Trust I have worked in for 24 years is a real honour. I will need to keep remembering that when I’m doing my long training runs through the cold, dark winter months! But I am genuinely so excited and grateful for the opportunity not only to experience the event again but to raise money for the families we care for.

Is there a personal reason or cause that inspired you to take on this challenge? 

I have been a midwife at CHFT for 24 years, so one of the main reasons behind me applying for a CHFT Charity place was to raise the awareness and much needed funds to support our bereaved families and providing an amazing new suite for them to use and spend precious time in. If I can be part of making that desperate journey just a little more bearable for them through raising money, then I have achieved what I set out to do.

I hadn’t appreciated that there are other causes that will benefit from the fundraising until I spoke with Emma who informed me that donations can go towards helping patients with delirium and dementia, something that touches so many people’s lives. Yes, running a marathon hurts (a lot!) and is both physically and mentally tough but that is short lived compared to what the families I will be helping will endure. That is my inspiration.

What does running the London Marathon mean to you? 

Anybody who knows me will understand how much running the London Marathon means to me and I’m finding it really hard to put it into words. I think all the emotions are covered, excited, happy, scare, proud and everything in between. My dad ran it a few times when I was a child, and I remember him telling me about the first one he ran (when it was a relatively small race back in the early 1980s) and I felt so inspired by his words (and the medal!) and made a promise to myself that I would do this. My dad has always been my biggest supporter, but his own ill health has meant that he cant come and cheer me on in person anymore so he will be on my mind every step of the way. I hope by doing the London Marathon for CHFT Charity next year, I many even inspire someone else to give it a go in the future.

What are you most excited about (or nervous about) on race day? 

I have been running for the past 13 years and joined a local running club around 7 years ago (Stainland Lions) so have participated in many races but the nerves, anxiety and the prayer that the Portaloo’s will be in a relatively acceptable state are always there, (they are an experience!). I’m 51 so definitely not in my prime, I don’t have style, grace or speed but I am very determined, and I love a challenge, and I just want to soak up every little bit of atmosphere. I know how incredible the crowds are and cannot wait to experience that again. I certainly won’t be breaking any records for me, I want to enjoy it as much as I can, raising money and awareness for this fabulous charity.

Do you have any fundraising plans in mind or ideas for how you'll be raising sponsorship?

I will be doing lots of fundraising over the coming months, from bake sales to raffle and wearing memory ribbons in my running vest (anyone can make a donation, write a message on a ribbon and I will pin this to my best on the day – the more ribbons I have the better). I have lots of other ideas too so if everybody can keep a look out for what I’ll be doing!! I already feel like I’ll be really supported by the team so I’m excited to get going with it all.

"I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in the selection process, I really am so grateful and proud to represent CHFT Charity and hopefully we can smash the target!" - Zoe.