Ceiridwen Walker, a public health coordinator for the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, has completed a half marathon to fundraise for the My WiSH Charity, and is set to do the Manchester Marathon in a bid to raise even more.
The 33-year old, who lives in Newmarket, has been on a health and fitness journey for the past four years, losing 10 stone through a calorie-controlled diet, combined with increased exercise.
Ceiridwen ran the Cambridge Half Marathon on 8 March, and is preparing to do the Manchester Marathon on 19 April, all to raise money for My WiSH.
Ceiridwen decided she wanted to boost the funds of the charity after all the encouragement and motivational support she received on her weight loss journey by staff at the hospital, where she’s worked for the past six years.
Ceiridwen, who chairs the staff disability network at the Trust as she has both ADHD and autism, said: “Colleagues at the West Suffolk Hospital have supported me all the way, so it felt fitting to use my marathon journey to support My WiSH.
“The wonderful thing about the Trust is that it truly is part of the community – we’re treating our neighbours, friends, and family, and we try our best to look after each other. The charity helps us to do that.”
Ceiridwen explained she had been sedentary and overweight, and following a health problem in 2022, she committed to making changes so she lives a healthier lifestyle.
Between June 2022 and January 2023, Ceiridwen lost over 50lbs and felt ready to start adding in exercise. She started running with the NHS Couch to 5K app with a goal to do a parkrun, and discovered a love of running.
Completing the Cambridge Half Marathon in 2024 was one of her “proudest achievements”.
She said: “There were happy tears at the finish line that day.”
Thinking about the two runs, which have a combined distance of nearly 40 miles, she added: “I’m so excited for this challenge. It’s amazing this is something I get to do.
“For me, running is more than about getting a ‘workout’ done. It’s about all the little things I notice in the mornings as I’m out – the streets I would have never explored, the sunrises that I would have missed, the sound of birds singing. It greatly improves my mental wellbeing.
“I’m running now so that, in 30 years’ time, I hope I can walk my dogs in comfort.”
Ceiridwen believes her life is now on a different path since her weight loss, advising: “Add more joy to your life to replace anything you’re cutting back on, know enough to stay safe, but don’t overwhelm yourself with having to know everything and understand that it is your own journey, so make it work for you.”
After completing the 13 mile run for My WiSH in Cambridge, Ceiridwen said: “The Cambridge Half Marathon was the first of two races I’m taking on this Spring raising money for My WiSH. The atmosphere in Cambridge was incredible, and the seeing the sparkly purple My WiSH team cheering me on in the final miles gave me that push I needed to get to that finish line.
“I’ll be running Manchester Marathon in April too, so I’m a third of the way through the distance and it feels great knowing that every mile I run is raising money for something truly special. I’m so proud to be doing this for My WiSH!”
Joanne Landucci, the head of fundraising at the My WiSH charity said: “My WiSH is overjoyed to have Ceiridwen’s support so we can continue to support the local community of west Suffolk.
“Fundraising will go towards enhancing care at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust by funding things that go beyond what the NHS alone can provide.
“If you are inspired by Ceiridwen’s story and want to make a difference locally, please do get in touch with us.”