Raising monies for GET THE BOYS A LIFT London Marathon 2025

Hi, I’m Ali

Just before my 60th birthday I set myself a quiet goal: try to run 5 k. The then newly formed running group "Sole Sisters" took me in, and watching the red‑carpet finish at Pembrokeshire’s Long Course Weekend the year before, convinced me to enter, keep going and get a few medals! Eighteen months later, having been inspired by Elin the founder of SS, I entered the ballot for the TCS London Marathon. Against all expectations my very first application was accepted out of 840,000, so on Sunday 27 April 2025 I’ll line up in Greenwich with 3 fellow Sole Sisters and almost 56,000 others. I'll be hoping to reach The Mall in one piece!!

The past four months have meant long runs on frozen mornings and cold, dark evenings with Pete at Peter Lloyd Coaching mapping every week's plan to keep me accountable and on track. The Pembrokeshire Tri Club's Tuesday‑night intervals taught me how to run when my lungs wanted to stop and the lovely supportive ladies in Sole Sisters turned hard workouts into laughter and coffee stops! Thanks too to my daughter Sara who joined me for 10 k’s and half‑marathons, reminding me why I started.

From the outset I knew that if I ever tackled a marathon it would be for a Pembrokeshire charity and GTBAL, based in Haverfordwest is wonderful. For those of you who don't know they run a not‑for‑profit coffee shop and outreach projects that fund free, no‑waiting‑list counselling for anyone aged 17 +. Around 30 % of their income has to come from fundraising, so every pound we raise here plugs a real gap. As someone who has faced their own mental‑health challenges, I’m grateful for the space GTBAL offersand for the fact that the movement is powered by volunteers and staff my children’s age, supporting their peers and the older generation too.

What your donation can do:

£5 Keeps the café lights on so someone can walk in for a chat.

£20 Funds one professional counselling session.

£50 Helps take mental‑health workshops into local schools and workplaces.

How to help

Donate whatever you can—every amount matters, so if it's the cost of a cuppa, you know what to do!

Share this page with anyone who cares about mental health in our community.

Send a cheer on 27 April; I’ll need every single one.

Thank you for reading, I really appreciate your time. I'm looking forward to next weekend to smash through the finish and be greeted by my partner Andrew, James, Martha, Emma and Karen.

Whatever happens on race day is down to them as much as me with their kindness and support on the day.