We are incredibly proud of Charlotte Coton (Upper Sixth), who, alongside her mum, successfully completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon this past Sunday in London.

Charlotte dedicated her run to support and raise awareness for Blood Cancer UK, a cause that holds a special place in her heart due to her grandad's recent multiple myeloma diagnosis. Together with her mum, Charlotte has raised just over £3,000.

Reflecting on why she decided to run the half marathon, Charlotte said: “I began training in May, but as someone who had previously participated in athletics, I found this quite enjoyable, although the longer runs became a challenge. On average, I was running about four or five times a week to ensure that when I ran the half marathon, I could complete it to the best of my ability.

“At the beginning of the race, I was feeling nervous and apprehensive as this was my first-ever half marathon. Having completed this half marathon, I felt a massive sense of achievement, as it was such a tough challenge, and I knew I was doing it for my granddad. So, I had the motivation to reach the finish line, knowing that all the money raised would go toward a great cause. After completing this, I plan to run another half marathon and in the future, a full marathon.”