{"id":8069,"date":"2022-03-14T16:08:08","date_gmt":"2022-03-14T16:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/?p=8069"},"modified":"2023-03-22T13:01:08","modified_gmt":"2023-03-22T13:01:08","slug":"teamcardiff-fundraisers-to-take-on-cardiff-half-marathon-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/2022\/03\/14\/teamcardiff-fundraisers-to-take-on-cardiff-half-marathon-2\/","title":{"rendered":"#TeamCardiff fundraisers to take on Cardiff Half Marathon"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>At the end of March, #TeamCardiff runners will take part in the postponed Cardiff University\/Cardiff Half Marathon to raise money for Cardiff University research. <\/strong><\/em><em><strong>After an 18-month delay due to the pandemic, the 350-strong team of staff, students, alumni and friends are aiming to raise \u00a370,000 for neuroscience and mental health research, and cancer research.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Around 70 alumni from across the UK will be lacing up their trainers on Sunday 27 March, to cover the 13.1 miles, passing some of the city\u2019s most iconic landmarks.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Martin.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-8089 size-profile-large\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Martin-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"MartinChorley\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Martin-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Martin-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Martin-40x40.jpg 40w, https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Martin.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>For alumnus Dr Martin Chorley (BSc 2005, PhD 2013), the fact the race takes place on Mother\u2019s Day is particularly special.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cWhen my mum was diagnosed with incurable kidney cancer in 2019, I decided to run the Cardiff Half Marathon that year as part of #TeamCardiff to raise <\/em><em>money to support cancer research at Cardiff University. Running is an important part of my wellbeing and maintaining my mental health, and training for the race while mum was ill became a key coping strategy, as well as a way to try and create some positivity out of a very sad situation.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cAfter quite a brief period of illness Mum passed away on the day of the last 2019 Cardiff Half Marathon, something I didn\u2019t find out until after I\u2019d crossed the finish line. This event has become an important link with my mum\u2019s memory, and so I want to continue to run this race for her. I was happy to sign up for the March event with #TeamCardiff and attempt to raise more money for vital research that could help others avoid the grief that comes with losing a loved one.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/fundraising\/mjc-cardiffhalf2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Support Martin<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Sian.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-profile-large wp-image-8092\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Sian-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"Sian McCarthy\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Sian-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Sian-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Sian-40x40.jpg 40w, https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Sian.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>Alumna Sian McCarthy (BA 2005, PGCE 2006) has also been inspired to run by her mum and is fundraising for neuroscience and mental health research. Following a hit and run accident when she was 17, Sian\u2019s mum suffered decades of chronic pain and needless operations to solve what was finally diagnosed by a neurosurgeon as cranial nerve damage and trigeminal neuralgia.<br \/>\nSian said:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cI\u2019m running the Cardiff Half to try, in some small part, to recognise and contribute to the heroic work of Cardiff University. I was raised by my mother, who suffered severe neurological injuries when I was very young. The cutting-edge research undertaken by Cardiff University staff saved her life and gave me back the childhood I was in danger of losing. It\u2019s a privilege to be able to repay that by running in their honour, and in my mum\u2019s.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/fundraising\/Sian-McCarthy2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Support Sian<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Panos.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-profile-large wp-image-8095\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Panos-200x200.jpg\" alt=\"Panos Pittakas\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Panos-200x200.jpg 200w, https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Panos-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Panos-40x40.jpg 40w, https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/323\/2022\/03\/Panos.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>Alumnus Panos Pittakas (MEng 2021) is running for Cardiff University\u2019s cancer research after losing his grandmother to cancer in February 2022.<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cThree weeks ago, I lost my nan to cancer after a seven-year long battle. I&#8217;ll be running the Cardiff Half Marathon to raise awareness and contribute to the research Cardiff University is undertaking in cancer, and neuroscience and mental health, in her memory. It\u2019s about time to pump up the effort and stop losing people.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/fundraising\/PPittakas\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Support Panos<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Greg Spencer, Deputy Director of Development &amp; Head of Fundraising from the University\u2019s Development and Alumni Relations department said:<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to see such dedication and perseverance from our alumni, many of whom signed up to the Half Marathon before the pandemic. By taking on this challenge, they\u2019re helping to raise vital funds for Cardiff University research, that will transform lives for the better. I can\u2019t wait to cheer on all of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/campaign\/TeamCardiff2020\">#TeamCardiff<\/a> runners on race day and celebrate their fantastic achievements.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/campaign\/TeamCardiff2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Support #TeamCardiff&#8217;s fundraising<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3>Cardiff Half October 2022 or other fundraising<\/h3>\n<p>If you would like to run Cardiff Half Marathon with #TeamCardiff on 2 October 2022, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/get-involved\/fundraise-for-cardiff-university\/run-the-cardiff-half-marathon\">pre-register your interest<\/a> to secure a free charity space. If you\u2019d like to take on a different challenge or fundraise another way, contact the University\u2019s Community Fundraising Officer Steph Bird at <a href=\"mailto:donate@cardiff.ac.uk\">donate@cardiff.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At the end of March, #TeamCardiff runners will take part in the postponed Cardiff University\/Cardiff Half Marathon to raise money for Cardiff University research. After an 18-month delay due to the pandemic, the 350-strong team of staff, students, alumni and friends are aiming to raise \u00a370,000 for neuroscience and mental health research, and cancer research.","protected":false},"author":1812,"featured_media":8070,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[211,39,142,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-teamcardiff","category-cardiff-connect","category-donate","category-events"],"meta_box":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1812"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8069"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8069\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8129,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8069\/revisions\/8129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}