A woman is preparing to take on her first-ever running event just six months after losing her younger brother.
Katie Bye, 27, will run the Saucony London 10k this July in aid of Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), the suicide prevention charity working to support people experiencing suicidal thoughts and mental health challenges.
Having never considered herself a runner, Katie only started training six weeks ago. She will be joined on the start line by her close friend and ambulance service colleague, Ellie, who is also taking part in memory of Katie’s brother, Adam.
Adam, who was 21 years old and worked within the ambulance service, died in January 2026 after struggling with his mental health.
Katie says the experience has transformed her outlook on life and inspired her to do everything she can to raise awareness of the support available to people who may be suffering in silence. She hopes her fundraising efforts for CALM will help more people access the help they need and encourage open conversations around mental health, particularly among young men.
Katie has raised over £1,700 so far. To support, visit www.justgiving.com/page/katie-bye-1
Katie said: “I’m running the Saucony London 10K in memory of my brother and to support Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). Every step is for him, and for everyone struggling in silence. I hope to help raise awareness, challenge the stigma around suicide, and remind people that no one has to face their darkest moments alone.
“Adam was struggling and none of us knew. The loss of my brother has been devastating and has shown me how important it is that people feel able to ask for help when they need it. While CALM couldn’t help Adam, and it can’t bring him back, it can help prevent other families going through the pain that ours has experienced.
“I’m doing this to help break the stigma around young men struggling with their mental health and the idea that they should simply ‘man up’. I want people to know it’s okay to talk, it’s okay to ask for help, and that support is available.”
As an ambulance service worker herself, Katie has seen first-hand the impact that mental health crises can have on individuals and families.
The Saucony London 10k will see thousands of runners take to the streets of the capital on a closed-road route past iconic landmarks including Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus and the London Eye. The event has become one of the UK’s most popular running events, attracting participants of all abilities who are raising money for a wide range of charitable causes.
For Katie, however, crossing the finish line will represent far more than completing a race.
She added: “It will be emotional. I’ve never done anything like this before, but if sharing Adam’s story encourages even one person to reach out for help, or helps one family avoid the heartbreak we’ve experienced, then it will be worth every step.”
To fundraise in the 2027 Saucony London 10k, with entries for 2026’s edition sold out, visit: www.thelondon10k.com
