My Story

Why WAY (Widowed & Young)?

_{I am not the best with words but my reasons for choosing WAY as my charity for the Great North Run are quite possibly the most personal yet. Please read Donna's own account as to why WAY has been such an important part in this horrific journey my courageous, strong and amazing friend has had to navigate. For Mark, for Donna.} 

_{On the 11th of October 2025 my husband Mark had a catastrophic gastro hemorrhage and by the time we got to the hospital he went into cardiac arrest and died. He was just 49 and I was 42.}

_{To say that my world imploded is an understatement.} 

_{How the hell had this happened and how was I a widow at just 42, Widows are supposed to be old and have a lifetime of memories to comfort them for their last few years.}

_{I didn't know anyone that had been through this, Mark and didn't have any living children and I felt so completely and utterly alone and if I am honest, I felt I had no reason to carry on' what was the point when my person was no longer here.}

_{I had a huge amount of friends and family around me, some shone brighter than others and Laura was definitely a North star for me.}

_{She arrived here from Spain in a matter of hours to offer emotional and practical support to me and I will never be able to thank her enough.}

_{As weeks passed, no matter how amazing any of my friends were, I felt more alone than I thought possible and I said to Laura that as lovely and kind as everyone was I had no one in the world that could understand what "this" felt like.}

_{She told me that she was looking to do the great North run and one of the charities that she had come across was WAY (widowed and young) and that I could look there to see if it may be something I could find useful.}

_{I signed up that day and as I opened the pages to this amazing charity, there it was. There were (sadly) thousands of young Men and women that knew exactly what I was feeling and as I read post after post of loss, of love and most importantly support for one another, I knew that I had finally found the space where I would be heard and that I would be truely understood.} 

_{After few days I wrote a post introducing myself and telling mine and Marks devastating story. I had hoped for a few replies of people that could understand but instead I recieved hundreds of messages of love and support and all from people that were navigating this themselves.}

_{I have now been a member of WAY for nearly 8 months and I will never be able to express how much it has helped me through my darkest of days, whether it's a zoom meeting, answers to questions, a meet up or the virtual hug that I have needed on so may occasions, it has truly been my lifeline, I really question whether I would still be here without it.}

_{So thank you WAY and thank you to my amazing friend Laura for guiding me there and for now undertaking the GNR to raise money for this amazing charity.}

About us

60,000 determined and dedicated runners make the AJ Bell Great North Run the World’s biggest and best half marathon – famous for its warm North East welcome, unbeatable atmosphere and the millions raised for good causes. 

The AJ Bell Great North Run is an opportunity for us all to come together and support one another. Its magic can be hard to understand – until you have experienced it yourself. You’re guaranteed a running event like no other - and a finish line feeling you’ll never forget.

It's not all about the adults, the AJ Bell Junior & Mini Great North Run gives the kids a chance to experience that finish line feeling, earn a special medal & raise money for good causes.