Ballymena woman raises over £6,000 for charity after marathon runs

A BALLYMENA woman has raised more than £6,000 for Hospice UK and Cancer Research UK. after running a number of recent Marathons, including the London Marathon and Belfast City Marathon.

Kathryn Le Coz (48) lives in Charvil, England with her husband and children but is originally from Ballymena.

Kathryn is an accounting director for PwC in London and attended Ballymena Academy.

She recently returned for the 30 year 'Class of 94' school reunion over the Easter Break.

A school tour was held followed by a music session in the Heather Clarke Music Suite which is named after Kathryn's mother, who sadly passed away from bowel cancer 40 years ago, and some even managed the Ecos park run the next morning.

The two charities Kathryn has chosen to support hold a special place in her heart.

Kathryn's mother had Polycystic Kidney Disease but died of bowel cancer before she could get a transplant, while her uncle Brain passed away from a brain tumour.

Kathryn embarked on her first half marathon in 2018 where she raised almost £4,000 for Kidney Research.

To mark the 40th and 20th anniversaries of her mother and uncle's passing, she decided to sign up for not one, but six races!

Speaking to the Ballymena Guardian, Kathryn said: "I completed my first Half Marathon in 2018 and regularly take part in our local park runs with my husband, Yann, and two sons, William and Patrick.

"I completed the Royal Parks Half on October 8, last year, in memory of my uncle Brian who passed away following a long battle with a brain tumour.

"He had a lot of support over that time from St Helena’s hospice in Colchester and also from his wife, Auntie Jean, who sadly passed away this summer so this one - my fifth half - was for both of them!

"This was great kick start to my training and also marked the start of Hospice Care Week.

"I also recently completed the Wokingham Half Marathon in February alongside my husband who also signed up for his first full marathon at Belfast City.

The Belfast City Marathon was particularly poignant for Kathryn as it was held the day after the 40th anniversary of her mother passing away from bowel cancer.

Kathryn ran this Marathon with family and school friends with the route passing by Belfast City Hospital where her mother died. Kathryn described it as "an emotional day".

Not stopping there, Kathryn went on to complete the PwC/Hospice UK Hyde Park 5k on May 17.

Speaking about her focus on running, Kathryn said: "Normally it is to help with physical and mental wellbeing and weight management but when I fundraise for certain races then there is a huge emotional element too.

"My first half marathon raised almost £4k for Kidney Research UK. I donated a kidney to my brother who also has the disease and my other brother received a dead donor.

"As this fundraising/race campaign cam ahead of the 40th anniversary of my mum's death, this was another emotional one."

Speaking about her preparation for such endurance feats, Kathryn explained: "I am not in a running club as it can be hard to fit in with commuting to London but I have a training app and we belong to a gym so do other cross training activities like swimming, weights and pilates classes there.

"Training is a mix of one long run and one speed run once a week and as many recovery runs as I can fit in, as well as weekly park runs."

The London Marathon was Kathryn's first full marathon, having completed seven half marathons and over 50 park runs!

A keen fundraiser, Kathryn is also involved with a number of music organisations and choirs.

She said: "I am part of Twyford Singers and PwC Choir and we had a very busy Christmas season including carol services. I arranged, sang and played piano for a number of carol singing sessions in local old people's homes around Twyford and Wargrave.

"Our PwC choir raised over £10k for PwC Foundation charities including one of my charities Hospice UK, with our carol singing sessions in the office and service in Southwark Cathedral."

If you would like to support Kathryn, please log on to the following link where any donation, big or small, will be greatly appreciated.