We’re excited to welcome Ella to the Action Foundation Great North Run team! Alongside her busy role with Cancer Research UK, she’s taking on the iconic half marathon in her former university city of Newcastle – and we can’t wait to welcome her back.
Ella works as a Health Community Engagement Manager for the Cancer Awareness Roadshow. The Roadshow operates from a mobile van and has four regional teams of specialist nurses travelling across the UK. The nurses chat to people about how small lifestyle changes can reduce their cancer risk, encouraging them to know what’s normal for their bodies and giving them the confidence to visit their GP with any concerns. The teams focus on communities most at risk of cancer, bringing health information directly to those who need it most.
Ella initially heard about Action Foundation through our charity’s training offer.
“I was lucky enough to attend the Cultural Competency Training delivered by Action Foundation. This training is designed for organisations working with migrants in any capacity. I found the training really powerful and informative, in particular being able to directly hear from a refugee about their experience of arriving into the UK.”
The Roadshow team also joined one of Action Foundation’s weekly Drop-ins, where they were struck by the warm, welcoming atmosphere. Our Drop-ins are a safe space for anyone in the asylum process to access free food, haircuts and of course, trusted advice.
“It highlighted how difficult it can be to navigate healthcare systems without English fluency and stable resources. By our team being present in this trusted, community-led space they were able to offer personalised, culturally sensitive support in order to help reduce barriers to care and ensure no one is left behind in our health promotion efforts.”
Inspired by this, Ella decided to run the Great North Run for us. Having studied in Newcastle, completing the famous half marathon was always on her bucket list, but student life didn’t quite lend itself to training. This year, however, she made a New Year’s resolution to take on a half marathon. She smashed it by completing the Battersea Half Marathon in May.
Ella then took a break from regular training and has been slowly building her stamina back up for the GNR. “It always surprises me how quickly you can lose your stamina,” she says. “So I’m hoping the crowds will keep me going on the day.”
While many runners swear by their playlists, Ella prefers to run without music. “Running is one of the only times that my brain isn’t whirring with all the usual life stresses and continuous to-do lists,” she says.
Running across the Tyne Bridge will be a key moment for her and she’s already excited for the finish line on the coast.
When asked what it means to support refugees and asylum seekers, Ella says:
“It is such an important cause, and it was so evident to me through my small connection with Action Foundation, what a difference they are able to make supporting refugees and asylum seekers to lead more independent and resilient lives.”
We’re so proud to have Ella on #TeamAction Foundation and we can’t wait to cheer her on as she crosses that finish line!
You can donate to Ella’s page here: Action Foundation: Ella’s page
