Meet our fundraisers: Emma and Simon
"Running together on the day made it even more special; every step felt like it meant something."
Running isn’t just about the miles; it’s about the meaning behind them. For Emma and Simon, taking on the London Landmarks Half Marathon was more than a personal challenge. It was a way to honour Emma’s mum, Lindsay, and support others affected by neurological conditions.
Running with purpose
Emma lives with her husband Simon and their two children in Suffolk. While Simon found his love for running during the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually completed his first marathon in 2024, Emma’s journey into running came later.
Emma recalled:
“We actually tried running together when we first started dating. It didn’t go very well. I think I did about 2K and called it a day, Simon carried on without me!”
Years later, things had changed. Emma had completed a half-marathon, and both she and Simon had built running into their lives, just not together.
Simon explained:
“We trained completely separately. Race day was actually the first time we’d really run side by side properly.”
A loss that changed everything
In May 2023, Emma’s mum, Lindsay, died suddenly following a catastrophic brain haemorrhage.
Emma told us:
“She was there one day and gone the next. It was completely unfathomable.”
The experience gave Emma and her family a sudden and profound insight into how the brain works, and how devastating neurological conditions can be.
In the months that followed, running became something more than exercise.
“It gave me space, a way to process what had happened. Running was where I could stop and think.”
Remembering Lindsay
Lindsay was, in Emma’s words, “an absolute force of nature.”
A nurse for over 30 years, she dedicated her life to caring for others, working in hospitals and the community and supporting patients and families through some of their most difficult moments.
Emma said:
“People just felt safe with her. Mum was practical, caring, and incredibly funny; she had such a sharp sense of humour.”
She was also deeply connected to family life.
“She was a fierce mum and grandmother. Family was everything to her.”
Many of the family’s happiest memories were spent visiting her in the Lake District, where she had created a beautiful home surrounded by nature.
Simon recalled:
“You’d be washing up and see a cow or a horse at the window. It felt like a completely different world, and she absolutely loved it.”
Turning grief into action
As time passed, Emma began to reflect more on what had happened and how many other families go through similar experiences.
“I started reading more about brain haemorrhages and neurological conditions, and the reality for people who survive them. That stayed with me.”
Wanting to do something meaningful around the anniversary of her mum’s passing, Emma decided to take on a fundraising challenge.
“I wanted to do something that honoured her, but also gave something back to others going through this.”
When she shared the idea with Simon, he didn’t hesitate.
Simon said:
“I just wanted to do it with her. It felt like something we should take on together.”
The couple chose to support The Brain Charity because of its work supporting people living with neurological conditions and their families.
Emma said:
“It just felt like the right fit. The real, practical support the charity gives to people makes such a difference.”
The London Landmarks experience
Race day brought everything together.
Emma remembered:
“We got to London really early. You could see the city waking up, and then gradually, the atmosphere just builds. It was incredible.”
For both Emma and Simon, one of the most powerful parts of the event was the shared purpose among runners.
Emma explained:
“It felt like everyone was running for something. We were surrounded by people raising money for causes that meant so much to them; it was really emotional.”
Despite training separately, the couple ran the entire race side by side.
Emma joked:
“I had my own personal pacer. I didn’t want to focus on times, I just wanted to experience it.”
For Simon, the day brought its own challenges after a difficult training period due to an injury.
Simon admitted:
“I wasn’t even sure I’d make it to the start line at one point. So just being there felt like an achievement in itself.”
But together, they kept going, supported by the crowds, the atmosphere, and their family cheering them on along the route.
Simon said:
“Hearing people shout your name, even if you don’t know them, it’s such a boost.”
A moment for the whole family
Crossing the finish line wasn’t just a personal achievement; it was something they shared with those closest to them.
“Our children, our parents, everyone was there. It created a real moment for all of us.”
The fundraiser also brought unexpected connections.
“We had messages from people we hadn’t spoken to in years. People sharing their own experiences with brain conditions, things we never knew. That was really powerful.”
A lasting impact
For Emma and Simon, the experience was about more than completing a race.
“Hard things happen in life, and we don’t know how much time we have. All we can really do is squeeze as much life into our time as possible, and this felt like a way to do that, while honouring my mum.”
Through their fundraising, they’ve helped The Brain Charity continue supporting people affected by neurological conditions across the UK.
And this may not be the end of their journey.
Simon said:
“We’ve definitely caught the bug. We’re already talking about what we might do next.”
Support Emma and Simon
Emma and Simon’s story is one of love, resilience, and turning loss into something meaningful.
Every donation helps The Brain Charity support people to live longer, healthier and happier lives after a neurological diagnosis.
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Published: 8 April 2021
