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Woman runs half marathon after losing 10 stone

Liz NiceSuffolk
News imageWest Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust Ceiridwen after she completed her race standing proudly in a tent. Her blonde hair is tied back and she is smiling. She is wearing a purple My Wish t-shirt with her race number on the frontWest Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Ceiridwen Walker has worked at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust for the past six years

A woman has completed her first half marathon after losing 10 stone (140lbs) over the past four years.

Ceiridwen Walker, a public health coordinator for the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in Bury St Edmunds, took part in the Cambridge half marathon on Sunday after discovering a love of running.

The 33-year old, from Newmarket, Suffolk, has been on a health journey and said she lost weight through a calorie-controlled diet and increased exercise.

"For me, running is about more than 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," she said.

"It greatly improves my mental wellbeing. I'm running now so that in 30 years' time I can walk my dogs in comfort," she added.

News imageWest Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust Ceiridwen is standing in a garden with lots of tall green plants behind her. She has her blonde hair tied back. She is wearing a black T-shirt and has a pair of yellow heart-shaped sunglasses tucked into her collar. West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Walker has lost 10 stone on her health journey over the past four years

Walker said she decided to fundraise for the NHS's My WiSH Charity after she received support on her weight loss journey from her colleagues.

Walker, who chairs the staff's disability network at the trust, 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."

She said she had previously been sedentary and overweight, but following a health problem in 2022 she committed to making changes to her lifestyle.

Between June 2022 and January 2023, Walker lost more than 50lbs (3.5st) and then felt ready to start exercising.

She started running using the NHS Couch to 5K app with a goal to do a parkrun, and discovered a love for the activity.

"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!" she said.

News imageWest Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust Ceiridwen is in a room with white walls. Her head and shoulders are visible. She is wearing her purple My Wish running t-shirt and is holding her silver medal close to her faceWest Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Ceiridwen Walker took part in the Cambridge half marathon on Sunday

Walker ran the Cambridge Half Marathon on 8 March and plans to take part in the Manchester Marathon on 19 April.

Her advice for anyone else on a health journey was to "add more joy to your life to replace anything you're cutting back on".

"Understand that it is your own journey, so make it work for you," she added.

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."

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