Last Sunday, eight members of The Lily Foundation’s Team Hope took on the Bath Half Marathon and crossed more than just the finish line. They surged past an extraordinary milestone, smashing through £50,000 raised for The Lily Foundation to help fight mitochondrial disease.
With Hope’s mum Caroline among the runners, and the unwavering support of friends, family and the Swindon running community behind them, the day was a celebration of determination, community spirit and love.
Running for Hope
16-year-old Hope lives with a rare, life-limiting mitochondrial disease. She has complex medical needs and requires round-the-clock care, yet she continues to inspire everyone around her with her resilience and her radiant smile.
Parents Caroline and Chris have always been keen runners and, from a young age, Hope became part of their journey in an adapted running buggy. Over the years she’s taken part in local races alongside her family, building memories mile by mile.
And as well as all the runs across the Swindon area, Caroline has also completed the London Marathon and the London Landmarks Half Marathon, raising awareness and vital funds every step of the way.
A community effort
What began as a family effort has grown into something much bigger, and today the Swindon running community rallies around Team Hope, supporting Parkrun takeovers, race days and an array of fundraising events, from cake sales and discos to plane jumps. Their energy and generosity carried the team beyond £47,000 before race day in Bath had even begun.
By the time medals were placed around their necks, Team Hope had broken through the £50,000 barrier.
“Hitting the £50,000 milestone like this is just amazing,” said Caroline after the event. “It doesn’t seem that long ago that we reached £10,000, so I never expected this. What began as friends rallying around our family has turned into a huge team effort, and we’re hugely grateful to everyone who’s supported us along the way.”
Why it matters
The funds raised by Team Hope will drive vital research, provide specialist family support and help create brighter futures for those affected by mitochondrial disease. Hope’s family are running for progress, for the future and for Hope, and their achievement shows what can happen when a community comes together with purpose.
If their story has inspired you, why not start your own fundraising team? Whether you’re a runner, a baker, a dancer or someone who simply loves hosting events, bringing people together around a shared goal can make an extraordinary difference – just look at what Team Hope have achieved together.