Thousands of runners will take on the Hackney Half on Sunday 19 May. Many will be aiming to reach a particular goal, like a PB and others will be striving to raise awareness & money for a cause close to their heart.
We spoke to Grace Wyld who will be running the Hackney Half with her sister Eleanor to raise money for Cancer Research UK.
What motivated you to sign up?
“When you’re 25 and your mum is entering her third year of grappling with pretty advanced and aggressive cancer, you spend a lot of time feeling very useless. There are certain tasks that just can’t be delegated, so we – the inner circle of support around them – do what we can to help.
When my sister and I signed up to run the Hackney Half for Cancer Research UK we did it to feel useful, to feel like we were contributing. And our friends and family jumped at the opportunity to feel useful too, by donating.”
Why are you running the Hackney Half?
“I’m running the Hackney Half for my Mum but I’m also running it for the people who haven’t been as lucky as my mum.
Cancer might not discriminate, but our ability to live with it for longer and more comfortably depends a lot on our privilege. By supporting charities like Cancer Research UK, we might get one step closer to levelling that playing field for everyone, regardless of where they live and what support they have access to.
After a few months of bleak MRI results and some scary times spent in hospital, the Hackney Half is something for us to be excited about and way to channel what feels like the biggest, darkest thing in our lives into something brighter and more optimistic.”
What are you most looking forward to at the Hackney Half?
“Running with my big sister across the borough we grew up in and crossing the finish line together – it will be an emotional and exhausting moment. But it will be worth every sore muscle and every stitch, because it’s our way of showing solidarity with our mum and showing cancer the middle finger.”
Grace and Eleanor have already smashed their £1,000 fundraising target, raising over £5,000 so far. We can’t wait to see them cross the finish line!
Want to make a difference with your place in the Hackney Half? Find out more about how you can support Cancer Research UK here.
Tickets for the Hackney Half have now sold out. But join us at the Hackney Festival of Fitness! Taking place from 17-19 May on Hackney Marshes. Tickets on sale now – Friday £15, Saturday £35.