120-strong team running for cardiac arrest research
As we gear up for the return of the 2023 Principality Cardiff Half, we’re sharing the stories of inspiring runners taking part, many of whom have picked up life-affirming healthy habits as a result.
Around 120 people are preparing for the Principality Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday 1 October in a bid to raise £20,000 for a research project into cardiac arrests.
The team is made up of friends and family of Greg Lloyd, a fit and active police officer who died last year. And they are putting their best foot forward to raise money for Cardiff & Vale Health Charity so that the University Hospital of Wales can carry out a new research project into Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests (OOHCA).
The research will aim to provide more answers into how and why cardiac arrests happen along with ways it can be treated and prevented:
“Less than one in ten people in the UK who experience a cardiac arrest out of hospital survive. That’s something we are desperate to change. We don’t want anyone else to experience what we have,” adds Louise, Greg’s wife.
Louise will be running the 13.1 miles along with son, Rhys, 23, and daughter, Sophie, 21, friends, family and colleagues from South Wales Police:
“We wanted to say thank you because the team at University Hospital Wales did absolutely everything they could to save Greg. Despite always being on the go, Greg always made time for people and would do anything he could to help anyone. All we can do now as a family is focus on things to honour Greg’s memory and to try to help other people.”
And on 1 October, Louise will run with her son and daughter as well as her sister-in-law, brother-in-law, niece and nephew and an army of friends and work colleagues from South Wales Police.
This year’s Cardiff Half – the twentieth-anniversary edition of the race – takes place on Sunday 1 October and is set to raise more than £3 million once again through partnerships with over 90 charities. It sold out in June with 27,500 spaces runners now registered to be on the start line.
As part of its title sponsorship agreement, Principality Building Society, has teamed up with Run 4 Wales – the organisers of the Cardiff Half – to launch the “Healthy Habits” campaign. It aims to encourage people to adopt positive physical, mental and financial habits.
Adding to the event’s international appeal, it is now a part of the SuperHalfs – an international half marathon series including races in Lisbon, Prague, Valencia, Copenhagen and Cardiff. It challenges runners to complete the five race circuit in 36 months in order to earn a ‘SuperMedal’ and other exclusive prizes.
You can donate to the Greg Lloyd Justgiving page at: Team Lloyd is fundraising for Cardiff & Vale Health Charity (justgiving.com)
