Losing 10 stone prompts woman to run 40 miles for My WiSH charity

She’s lost an amazing 10 stone and now Ceiridwen Walker is set to take part in two challenging runs in a bid to raise money for a hospital charity – My WiSH.

The 33-year old, who lives in Newmarket, has been on a health and fitness journey for the past four years, losing weight through a calorie-controlled diet, combined with increased exercise.

Now, she’s planning to run the Cambridge Half Marathon on March 8, and the Manchester Marathon on April 19, all to raise money for My WiSH charity.

Ceiridwen decided she wanted to boost the funds of the charity after the support she received on her weight loss journey by staff at the hospital, where she’s worked for the past six years.

Ceiridwen is a public health co-ordinator for the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust and chairs the staff disability network. She 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.”

Ceirdiwen 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.”

Ahead of 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.”

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.”