Our reasons for running: “My hope is for a future where CF does not define lives”

Colleen 

I’m Colleen and I’m running the Great North Run for my son Ewan who is 7 years old and has cystic fibrosis. I am also part of Team Ewan, which we started in 2019 when our friends and family wanted to help us raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Trust.  

Since then, Team Ewan has raised over £70,000 in a number of ways, but the best part of our year is the Great North Run. Being from the northeast, this is such a special event and getting to do this as a team raising money and awareness of CF makes it even better.  

Even though I’ve done this run a number of times now, it is never easy! But when it gets hard, I have Ewan and all the others with CF to think about and remember they are my why. They are why I run and they make all the pain worth it. I will continue to support for as long as I can and continue being a role model to Ewan, who is enjoying running now too.  

Phill 

For me, running the Great North Run for Cystic Fibrosis Trust is as much about making Stacey proud as it is about challenging myself. I’ve never done anything like this before, so I thought, why not? And after Stacey passed in August of 2022, I wanted to do something in her memory. 

Stacey was the middle child of three, with me being the youngest and my older sister Kerry being the eldest. Growing up, I remember spending a lot of time in the hospital because Stacey was often there, but it was just the norm, and I didn’t know anything else. It never occurred to me that one day she wouldn’t be here because she always came home.  

Growing up, I rarely went to visit her because she always came home. There was always a family joke that if I ever did go to the hospital to see her, she must be bad. But she always came home. Until she didn’t. 

My family and I got to say our goodbyes in Papworth, Cambridge, which is where she had a double lung transplant a year earlier. It was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done. To say goodbye knowing that you’ll never see each other again or talk to each other again. I hope that by doing this, the fundraising I’ve done can help others, and I know that would make her proud.  

Lauren 

I’m running the Great North Run for my son Franco, who has CF. I’m running as Part of Team Franco, along with my husband and 14 of our friends and family. I’ve recently found a new love for running and also took on the London Marathon earlier this year for Cystic Fibrosis Trust. All my friends have been so supportive and encouraging and have all come together to support Franco and the Trust at the Great North Run. 

Michael 

My name is Michael, I’m 42 and I’m running the Great North Run for my two incredible  boys. They face the daily challenges of cystic fibrosis with courage, strength and resilience.  They inspire me every day, and now I’m running to give something back – not just for them, but for every family on this journey. 

This will be my third time running! I thought after the second time that would be my last, but when my youngest son came along and was also diagnosed with CF, I knew I had to go again. This run is more than just a race – it's a personal mission to raise awareness and support for this relentless condition and Cystic Fibrosis Trust. My hope is for a future where cystic fibrosis will not define their lives. 

Emily 

My name is Emily, and I have two beautiful children, Zach, who is 6, and Alice, who is 1. My husband Lee and I are running the Great North Run in support of our daughter Alice, who has cystic fibrosis.  

On 8 December 2023, our lives changed forever. Our beautiful 2-week-old daughter Alice was diagnosed with CF. From that very day we have both made it our life’s mission to raise awareness, to offer hope and to do our very best to stand by every single person living with CF and we will forever continue to do so.  

Every day is a battle to keep Alice healthy and strong. There is no cure and this is why we will continue to fundraise for this amazing charity. The help, the guidance and expertise from Cystic Fibrosis Trust will always be something our family will benefit from and need in our lives, and we couldn’t be more grateful to have this support available to us and our beautiful girl.  

I signed up to this challenge as I am not a runner and before any Great North Run training, I had never run in my life. This is why I thought that a few hours of being out of my comfort zone is nothing compared to the daily challenges Alice has to face. Every step we both take is for our precious girl Alice and all those living with CF and their families.