How did you get involved with The Running Charity?

In 2018, I went to see a screening of ‘Skid Row Marathon‘. Before it, they showed a fantastic 10-minute film called ‘I Run On’, about the transformative power of running (you can find it on You Tube, watch it whenever you need a boost!). It featured young people and volunteers from The Running Charity. The film really struck a chord with me, and I knew I wanted to get involved one day.

What does your average day look like?

It’s all about engaging with our young people and encouraging them to get outside and get active – supporting, listening, setting goals, having fun. And a lot of my time is spent meeting more young people and establishing Leeds as a thriving hub.

It’s still early days doing this as a full-time role (since March 2021), but it’s great to be meeting up outside with our young people and keeping in touch with the teams in Manchester and London. At the moment, I’m also building new connections with other organisations, hoping to meet more young people and add to our team of fab volunteers here in Leeds. Each day is different, which suits me fine! 

What would you say is your proudest achievement since working with us?

Firstly, getting the Leeds Hub started in 2020. And then making the transition from a volunteer, just doing it when I could, to being out there supporting young people every day is incredible.

What has been your best moment, personally?

Difficult to choose… the very first session where we met two of our young people and they came out to run with us was great. It was the start of something, and it was such key moment for me.

Why do you like working with young people? 

I always learn something from them. Young people have such varied life experiences, and although we get to share some of our knowledge and experience, it’s incredible listening to them, what they want to achieve, their perspectives, their hopes. We’re incredibly lucky.

Away from The Running Charity, what keeps you busy?

If I’m not running, I’m usually eating or sleeping! I love to be outside with friends as much as I can, and we’re lucky to have some stunning countryside in Yorkshire. I’ve a triathlon coming up and have been telling our young people about the training for that. I think they’re quite relieved that we’re the Running Charity and not the Swim In A Lake Charity.

When did you start running and why? 

I did bits as a teenager, but not very seriously. When I ran, it was for physical fitness, but I found it helped to clear my head, too. After years of trying, I got a place in the London Marathon in 2007. That was enough to get me to join a club and start training properly!

Tell us about your favourite race or run? 

My club had two teams of 8 running Endure 24 at Bramham Park in 2017. We set up camp, and there was a brilliantly supportive atmosphere. That weekend was such a good laugh!