Running for impact: taking on the Plymouth Half Marathon for The Eddystone Trust
At The Eddystone Trust we are passionate about being in business to make sexual health everyone’s business.
Over the past year, we’ve been developing new ways to engage with our wider community. One of those changes has been becoming more active in fundraising and taking part in events and challenges.
For us, fundraising isn’t only about raising money. It’s also about connection — creating opportunities to talk about sexual wellbeing, challenge stigma, and bring people together around a shared purpose.
This year, our staff have stepped up to take on a number of challenges, including our flagship Ride with Pride, The Red Run, and the Plymouth Half Marathon.
When Flick signed up for the Plymouth Half Marathon, it wasn’t just about completing a race — it was about raising awareness and funds for the work of The Eddystone Trust across the South West.
For Flick, the motivation was clear:
“I want to advocate and support safer and more empowering sexual health for as many people as possible. There is no such thing as a free condom, and fundraising allows us to support more people in the South West.”
It was also a personal challenge — one she hadn’t taken on before.
“I had never done anything like this before, and I had never run anything close to a half marathon! The training was difficult as I had shin splints for 8 weeks but I did not let that stop me from doing the best I could.”
That mix of challenge and commitment carried through into race day, where the experience of community made a lasting impact.
“The sense of community is really what spoke to me on the day. Seeing friendly faces when I felt defeated at the 17K mark really made a world of difference and reminded me why I’m doing it, and what cause I am running for.”
The work of The Eddystone Trust, she explains, is about far more than testing — it’s about dignity, access and support.
“It provides safe conditions for people to access testing for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhoea. But beyond the testing, Eddystone also offers support and compassion for those who may be conditioned to feel shame surrounding their sexual health.”
And that connection to local people matters.
“Knowing that I am supporting my local community really means so much… in a modern and globalised world we tend to forget about the importance of local networks and neighbourhoods. But in Plymouth, advocacy and Pride is so important so that we can flourish together.”
Her message to anyone thinking about fundraising is simple:
“Go for it. Any amount raised helps support services in the local community. Pushing yourself and doing something brave is part of what Pride is about.”
Thinking about your own challenge?
Inspired by Flick’s story? Whether it’s running an event like the Plymouth Half Marathon or taking on your own personal challenge, fundraising for The Eddystone Trust is a powerful way to make a difference locally.
If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you — every challenge, big or small, helps support our work across the South West.
Email Damon.Foster@eddystone.org.uk to get involved with future fundraising, and if you wanted to donate to Flick's cause you can do so by clicking here.