CPH Marathon for JG & British Heart Foundation

Hi all,

My name is Jess, and I'll be running the Copenhagen Marathon in May, raising money for the British Heart Foundation. I’ll be running and fundraising in memory of my late Dad, James, who passed away from heart-related problems in 2015.

Thanks to a longstanding cardiac issue, my Dad was never able to do sports or much physical activity. Instead of begrudging this fact, he was probably the world's biggest sports fan - this always meant encouraging my Mum and I to get out and enjoy the gift of exercise precisely because it was something he couldn't do. When I was little, this was mostly running - athletics in the summer, but my favourite was wintery Sunday mornings running around muddy farms across the Wairarapa. The ever-patient taxi driver, hype man, sideline supporter - and always sporting a green Irish Rugby beanie, sticking out above the heads of the other parents.

I really fell out of love with running in the years after Dad passed away - a mixture of late teenagehood and the loss of my number one supporter took away the enthusiasm I once had. It wasn’t until the pandemic, during my university years in London, that I truly fell back in love with it on my own terms - and since then it’s become one of the main ways I keep my mental health in tact. I’ve tackled a few half maras over these years but never quite managed the full 42km.

So, in a way, it all feels pretty full circle: I signed up for the Copenhagen Marathon a few weeks ago, and am really delighted to be able to fundraise in support of the British Heart Foundation. They do such crucial work; researching into heart conditions like the one my Dad was unlucky enough to have. He benefitted from the care of a number of incredibly talented cardiologists throughout his life, so it feels only right to raise money in support their brilliant research into pacemakers, defibrillators and heart disease.

If you knew him, you’ll know how apt this fundraiser feels. If you didn’t, poor you! I hope you’ll still consider donating to this very important cause. Even the the price of your daily coffee helps. And in any case: I hope this can encourage you to get out there and get your body moving - whether it’s 400m or 42km! - we owe it to all of those who can’t. As for me, I’ll be training, nervously anticipating the 5th of May, and - of course - always keeping my eye out for the green beanie. I know it’s out there somewhere!