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Kemi Joy

TCS London Marathon

My Activity Tracking

139
kms

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Raised

£1,167 + £174.48 GiftAid

My Goal

£2,750

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My Achievements

Has fundraising page

Updated profile pic

Added a blog post

Self donated

Shared page

Thanked donor

Has received 10 donations

Reached 50% of fundraising target

Amount raised £2,500

Reached fundraising goal

Increased target over £1,000

Reached distance goal

My Updates

The Joy-Pain Continuum

Sunday 2nd Nov

The Joy-Pain Continuum

Sunday 2nd Nov
Joy: Running an actual half-marathon, in Maidenhead, on Sunday 26th Oct, and running without stopping, even when, at times, it was definitely more of a jog!

Pain: My right knee had started hurting beforehand, in a very slight but concerning way behind and above the kneecap, that delayed my decision to plough ahead with the run... would running my longest distance yet make the pain more severe? 

Joy: I had a knee brace 🙌🏾 And the onsite medical team advised I wear it during the race and would be fine with focused recovery afterwards. 

Pain: The knee brace made my knee hurt MORE! My entire right leg was screaming at me! While keeping pace, I pushed it down below my knee, knowing that if the pain continued, I'd most certainly have to stop. 

Joy: The pain subsided and soon couldn't be felt at all!!! I've since read that this can happen with the continuous blood flow and warming up of the body during a long, non-speedy, run like mine. Though, given the unpredictability of pain itself, it was also something of a flippin miracle! Relief and gratitude for this helped supercharge the rest of my run. 

Joy: A girl of no more than 4 or 5 years old on the route, holding her hand out with the most jubilant of smiles, to high-five all us runners as we passed. Standing there, excitedly, some way in front of her watching parents, for ages in the Autumn chill. No chair. No snacks. Just there to encourage us adults..... 

As I spotted her, smiling and high-fiving each passing runner with as much happy-energy as the last, I was confronted with such overwhelm that I burst into tears. 

'Thank you' I whispered, as I bent down to high-five her and felt that she was - somehow - still holding my hand, as I carried on through. 

Pain: Heavy legs in the final stretch. 

Joy: Heavy legs in the final stretch - I was DOING it. And I was going to MAKE IT ... ACTUALLY FINISH IT. 

Pain: The finish line!

Joy: The finish line!!!!
        And I did it in 2:27, altho it felt like a good 4 hrs!

Pain: BOTH knees have now been hurting ever since and seem forever changed. Some symptoms of my overall health diagnosis are flaring up again. I've been determined in taking time to rest and recover, doing stretches and knee specific exercises... 

I finally did another run on Friday morning, 'just' 8.12km, and felt all the better for it. The knee pain went for the rest of the day, but then returned after I did a bunch of knee exercises the following day. 

Therein is The Joy-Pain Continuum: 

I am SO strong and yet weak at the same time. 

My body is brilliant but also vulnerable. 

My resolve is fixed but often flooded with doubt and despair. 

I carry joy and pain juxtaposed; grief very finely interwoven with bright, dazzling happiness-streaks. 

And how much, how far, how soon do I keep on running, when - for me - to run, is to be FULLY ALIVE ❤️🌈

And then, there's the 'small' matter of running the actual London Marathon in April... 

...one rebel-knee-in-recovery step at a time.

Landmark - Almost - Half Marathon!

Sunday 19th Oct
Ran 18.33km this weekend. 
Without stopping. 
Without actually meaning to - just took a wrong turn a couple of times...

I mean, it wasn't that long ago that I was unable to WALK even half that distance! 

The pure joy and empowerment of pushing my body further and further and realising - I am doing this, I AM STRONG, is sublime! 

If a run-hater like me can get here, then so much more is possible, for ALL OF US :-) 

Trials and Triumphs!

Sunday 3rd Aug

I lost both my parents to cancer in recent years, while they were both still in their 60s.

Then last October, I received a – very different, but still debilitating – chronic disease diagnosis of my own, that, together with other complications, had caused inflammation and immobility that ballooned my weight by over 5 stones in just 12 months.

Today I stand, having confronted the trajectory of my health, through a determined focus on – and application of - research into food, fitness, medication and mindset.

This same focus is what sets the World Cancer Research Fund apart as a charity and I am excited to both learn from them and partner with them - in raising funds for such an innovative and empowering cause. 

Last October, I could barely walk, but once the worst of my symptoms had passed, I started run-walking in the summer.

Those tiny, incremental steps were grueling at the time, but yesterday (fast-forward to 18.10.2025!) I completed my morning run, without stopping, at just under half-marathon distance. And I LOVED it! 

Every day, for me, is a fight to be stronger and persevere.

And running saves me. Every. Single. Time.

Even when I wake up full of anger and fear…

Every day I lean into the joy.

For myself.

For my two young daughters.

And for every person who has the same diagnosis as my parents - and/or various connected illnesses - the work of WCRF PROVES that so many symptoms can be better managed and even overcome, through the detail in what we eat and how we exercise.

So, any and every donation to the WCRF cause would be HUGELY appreciated.

I’m trailblazing my way to and through this marathon, even if I end up run-hobbling to that finish line!

Thank you to my Sponsors

£212

Chris And Dave

Good luck on the marathon Kemi we are confident that you will smash it. ❤️🤎

£100

Richard & Sara Evans

Wishing you all the best for the London Marathon, Kemi! Such an inspiring tribute and a great way to support a worthy cause! xx

£53.32

Luke Anya And Esme

We are all so proud of your amazing training and work! We know you will last the course!

£53.32

Mark Heyes

Such a great cause and.an amazing achievement before you’ve even done the marathon! You’ll have the best day 👏👏 xxx

£53.32

Chatzos Family

Amazing effort Kemi ! Good luck with the marathon next year and all your training Much love from the kiwi family

£53.32

Bernadette Boyle

I take my hat off to you Kemi! I love sport but running is something I could never really do. Good on you. Such a good cause too. Keep going - so many will be behind you! Best wishes, Bernie x

£53.32

Rowland

Go Kemi!

£53.32

Amma

Run, Kemi Run !! What a great cause hoping all the best ahead of this iconic marathon. Xxx

£53.32

India Wadham

Kemi you are an inspiration! Wishing you the best to luck!!! You will smash it 💪 💪 💪

£52.12

Akosua Wireko

Good luck!

£52.12

Jeannette Smith

Good luck Kemi! Fantastic effort! Love Gin, Matt, Theo and Tilly xx

£32.23

Delia And Kevin

Well done Kemi !! Cheering you on, you are an inspiration to us all. Keep running , with love from Delia and Kevin x

£32.23

Sappho Morgan

❤️💟💪😎⭐💜🤩

£32.23

William Galloway

Go Kemi!!!

£30

Natalie Crow

Good luck Kemi! You’ll smash it.

£27.05

Daniel And Sarah Stone

Kemi, your Joy-Pain Continuum is a rollercoaster, but keep riding it to the finish, because you are an inspiration to us all. Go Kemi!

£27.05

Craig Holmes

Amazing effort Ken, good luck!

£27.05

K Ryan

Good luck, Kemi! What you have already achieved is amazing!

£25

Kate And David Rhodes

Go Kemi go! So amazing and so in awe!

£21.84

Nick Ashton

Well done Kemi, you are indeed a strong woman. Xx

£21.84

Irina Ramage

Good luck with the training, Kemi, you can do it 💪

£16.56

Mark And Julie.

Merry Christmas!

£11.33

Paul Dixon

God bless, it's a great cause.

£11.33

Tom Beaty

Good luck Kemi!

£11.33

Thomas

£11.33

Laura Gilmore

Go Kemi! x

£11.33

Cal Twort

I’m so inspired by you Kemi. Thank you for sharing your story. I wish you all the best in the upcoming marathon. xx

£11.33

Deborah Arnold

Well done Kemi!

£10

Helen, Dan & Orla

Good luck Kemi! Love Helen, Dan & Orla x

£6.11

James Cartwright