A medical student from London is running 76km, inspired by her younger sister’s fight against cancer, as part of fundraising efforts surpassing £250,000.
Tara Kelly, 24, from Merton, will run the Cotswold Way Ultra Challenge this June to raise money for Children with Cancer UK, a cause that has shaped her life since childhood.
When Tara was just four years old, her baby sister Rose was diagnosed with infant acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at just five months old. Over the next two years, Rose underwent intensive treatment, including long hospital stays, rounds of chemotherapy and time on life support, as the family balanced life between home and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Now, years on, Rose has made a full recovery and is a happy, healthy young adult at university.
Tara says the experience has never left her and has fuelled a lifelong commitment to giving back. Her family set up a charitable initiative, Rose’s Gift, which has raised over £250,000 to support children’s cancer charities and research including Children with Cancer UK and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
In recent years, Tara has taken that mission further herself, combining her passion for running with fundraising. She has now personally raised over £12,000 for Children with Cancer UK through events including London, Brighton and Manchester Marathons.
To support Tara’s fundraising for Children with Cancer UK, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/tara-kelly-1
Now preparing for her longest distance challenge yet, Tara will take on a 76km Ultra Challenge through the Cotswolds, including more than 1,600 metres of elevation gain.
She is also balancing her training with final-year medical exams in Liverpool, having recently secured her first job as a doctor in London starting this summer.
She said: “My family’s story is hard to sum up, but I’m endlessly grateful for the work charities like Children with Cancer UK do – it’s the reason my sister is here today. I’ve grown up seeing the impact of that support, and giving back has always been so important to us as a family. Running has become my way of doing that.”
The Cotswold Way Ultra Challenge will see thousands of participants take on distances of up to 100km along the scenic national trail, across the weekend of 13-14 June, testing both physical and mental endurance.
For Tara, this challenge represents not just a personal milestone, but a continuation of a lifelong mission to support families facing childhood cancer.
“After my first marathon, I realised how much more I could do if I pushed myself further. This is by far the biggest challenge I’ve taken on, but I want to see how much more we can raise.”
Tara says her sister’s recovery continues to inspire her every day.
“We were incredibly lucky. Not every family gets that outcome, and that’s why I want to keep fundraising and supporting this work however I can.”
Entries are still open for the Cotswold Way Ultra Challenge from 13-14 June. To find out more, visit www.ultrachallenge.com/cotswold-way-challenge/
