Written By Team Willberry . - March 31 2021
A few of you may remember Willberry sending out a call for runners to join #TeamWillberry at Bath Half 2021. Its safe to say he was blown away (albeit not surprised considering how awesome she was!) by how many people were #inspiredbyHannah to lace up their trainers for 13miles!
Have a read to hear from some of the team themselves....
"I’m inspired by Hannah after my own diagnosis last summer. Her story inspired me to be brave, to keep fighting and hold onto my dreams. I was a keen runner before my diagnosis, having already run The Grizzly for Willberry, and was aiming to run the London Marathon too. Sadly Covid and my health put paid to that but I still managed to take part in the virtual marathon and walk the distance, 3 days after my second lot of chemo. The treatment took a lot out of me as it went on, and for several months I was really quite unwell, but now I am finished the heavy chemo and healed from my operation. My ongoing chemo is targeted treatment which thankfully doesn’t make me as unwell.
Ringoberry stepped up to chief chemo pony keeping me company through my treatment, and now he has passed me fit to train again he is encouraging me to get out there again!
I’m loving being able to run again, it really helps with the anxiety I have from my health, makes me feel normal again and brings a wonderful sense of peace. We are up to 7.5 miles now and loving every step of it!"
"I started running last year, doing c25k with a local running club. We actually completed our 5k a week early due to lockdown. So in November last year I ran my 1st 5k. I'm 50 years old and was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in 2012. I take daily medication to control it and it is currently sitting at nice low levels. I've looked at a few races, mostly at 5-10km and when they delayed the Bath half until September I thought it would great to set myself the challenge of running a half marathon. I ran my 1st 10k 2 weeks ago and am gradually building up my distances. I applied for the wobbleberry challenge back when it 1st started but due to a few issues (the main one being I don't have a horse!) I've not managed to complete it so this is my chance to do something amazing for the charity. I started following Hannah when one of her blogs popped up on my Facebook. She was truly inspirational and has made me want to push my limits, if she achieved what she did I can run a little half marathon! I'm hoping to raise a lot of money for the charity, with the added bonus of getting fit and losing weight!
I've attached a couple of photos. One of me meeting Willberry at the inaugural Hannah Francis ODE and one of my 2 Berry ponies the large one is Chappersberry (a very lucky ebay find before the ponies were for sale after I took raceberry to Lapland for Christmas and wanted my own) and Tonyberry who has a matching cross-country outfit!"
gf
"Hannah changed my life.
Because of her I became a Wobbleberry and made lifelong friends amongst the most wonderfully supportive, awesome group of equestrian ladies.
I’ve always been a bit of a wannabe Wobbleberry (I’ll never compete in a BE80) and now I am a wannabe half marathon participant- I intend to walk!
What I lack in prowess though I make up for it in enthusiasm with raising money and awareness for Hannah and Willberry❤️🐴🧣
1st place in my first ever ODE (Bottom Hole!) at the Owl House Stables, Kent. We raised over £850 for Willberry and even invited the Willberry Merchandising Wagon!
I’ve always believed that it doesn’t matter what you can or cannot do. What matters most is trying your best and helping those that you can, or as Hannah would’ve said: Dream Big, Fight Hard and Never Give up."
"I am a Wobbleberry Graduate being the archetypal Middle Aged Wimpy Eventer - managing to complete my challenge at Hannah’s 2nd ODE, started on the XC course by my sister who was the starter on the day. I was terrified - literally I had never competed and my jumping has only proved how good I was at falling off and breaking bones. But Hannah inspired me to dream big, fight hard and never give up - and that’s what I did.
I sadly lost my Wobblesteed so have been horseless since the challenge - but a massive supporter of every other Wobbleberry ever since. SO the Bath Half challenge was just what I needed too challenge myself and do something active in support. Me and Smartie Berry are busy training, despite genuinely not being a runner and not having run further than 5K - but WE WILL finish on time. I’m training every day.
And - this is the funniest picture of me, Smartie Berry and the glorious Beau at our challenge day in 2018."
"My name is Mary and I’ve been a Friend of Willberry for five years. I have a horse called Pan and a wonderful Berry pony called Panberry who keeps me in check.
I signed up to be part of Team Willberry for the Bath half marathon as while running is not my forte, I would quite literally do anything for Hannah and Willberry and this is my chance to challenge myself and raise money for a charity very close to my heart.
Hannah was an amazing young lady and fought her illness with such selflessness, courage and good humour. She started an amazing charity and I want to help her legacy continue.
Training is going well and Panberry is happy I think. We are up to running 10k non stop around the woods behind the yard where I keep Pan. I had a bit of a fall the other week (won’t show you the photo but it was a good one) but am all good now. We are looking forward to lighter evenings and warmer weather as we started our training in the snow :).
Thanks for reading and please, if you can spare a few quid, I would be made up if you could sponsor us."
To find out more about some of our other runners, check out their JustGiving pages(click on their names):
Flora, Lucy, Harry, Sam, Brandon, Tom, Max, Archie, Kieran, Emily & Ellie.
#inspiredbyHannah
