Kemi’s story: Turning grief into hope through fundraising
Over the last few years, both the mother and father of Kemi Williams died from cancer in their early 60s.
Following this, Kemi herself was diagnosed with a chronic condition which caused severe pain, inflammation, and immobility. She was left sofa bound with extreme weight fluctuations in the space of a year. Kemi said:
“I knew I wanted to respond to my parents’ deaths in a useful way, but I was paralysed with grief and my body was giving up on me. I began suffering from severe exhaustion and extreme pain to the point I could barely move.”
Determined to reclaim her health, Kemi drastically overhauled her nutrition, streamlined her food intake for recovery, and began rebuilding her fitness by going for short walks before incorporating running for one minute or two at a time.
She’s now taking on the TCS London Marathon to support life-changing research and give hope to people with cancer.
Reflecting on her journey, Kemi shared:
“In October 2024, I could barely walk. But once the worst of my symptoms passed, I began run-walking. Those tiny, incremental steps were gruelling at the time, but they changed everything.”
By October 2025, significant improvements in her health enabled Kemi to run a half-marathon – a feat which solidified her dedication to using the sport as a cathartic tool for regaining control of her life.
“So many things in life are dependent on someone else being in charge and having control… over our jobs, opportunities, freedom, availability… on a daily basis and with regards to our long-term dreams. But running is the one thing you can take ownership of, it is you taking charge of yourself. It’s been so empowering to regain control of my body – from a place of illness and immobility – and rebuild my entire sense of self.”
Running has been instrumental in helping Kemi cope with her grief as she comes to terms with the loss of her parents.
“I often wake up angry, stressed or feeling quite down. Using those moments to propel my body to run, when my mind might be wrecking havoc or in a state of apathy, and forcing myself into the repeated, rhythmic movement of putting one foot in front of the other somehow has a shake, cleanse, and reset effect. It leaves me recharged for the day ahead, and I can reframe and reflect on the grief that I carry.”
Rachael Hutson, World Cancer Research Fund’s CEO, commented:
“We are incredibly inspired by Kemi and her determination to not only improve her own health and wellbeing, but to fund life-changing research that will help people live free from the devastating effects of cancer. Our work would not be possible without the help of generous people like her, and we cannot wait to cheer her on.”
As she prepares for the 26.2-mile route, Kemi says the thought of seeing her two young daughters at the finish line, visualising them both beckoning her forth and cheering her on, is what gives her the mental strength to carry on.
“Near the end of my runs, when I’m tired and everything hurts, I picture my girls and their dad waiting for me at the end of the road. In my mind, I can hear them shouting ‘come on mummy.’ I know they’ll be there at the marathon waiting for me, and it’s the joy of having new life in my daughters that has been pivotal in navigating the end of life for my parents. If I can help give people more time with their loved ones, through the insight and tools they need to engage in the very best health and fitness their bodies can give them, then it’s a challenge worth doing.”
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On our next webinar with Dr Jennie Bee, Karan Thomas of @BehaviourChangeTraining, & Mary Gracia Arulpragasam ANutr will explore behaviour change, motivation, and the challenges of supporting healthier ...choices in real-world settings. Gain practical insights into having more effective conversations that build confidence, encourage positive change, and help reduce cancer risk.
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How is everyone doing with our ‘112 Skips a Day’ challenge this month? Do you do your skips in the morning or evening?
The first few weeks are the hardest as you realign your routine, but keep in mind that shiny reward… our PINK BEANIE! 😍
Oh, and funding crucial cancer ...prevention research. That too. 💁♀️
Show your support for 11-year-old Emmy here, who has signed up!
#Exercise #FamilyFriendly #Jump
Did you know breastfeeding is protective against breast cancer for mothers, as well as supporting babies’ lifelong health? This #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, we’re sharing our evidence on breast cancer prevention - but we know parents can’t do it alone. 👪 We need policy action like paid... parental leave, spaces for breastfeeding at work and in the community, and strong controls on how baby formula is marketed. Let’s support parents and babies!
Your heart is a muscle. It pumps blood around your body to keep everything working. It beats more than 100,000 times every day. Keep your heart healthy by being active for 60 minutes every day, including skipping! 😘 This month we're launching our '112 Skips a Day' initiative, ...inspired by how over 11,200 people a year die from breast cancer in the UK. Turn it into action by skipping 112 times a day every day throughout October (that’s 3,472 skips in total!). Raise £10 for a free skipping rope, just send us a DM. #CardiB #GymTrainer #PT
Are more young people getting cancer?
You may have seen headlines about how the number of cancers diagnosed in people younger than 50 years old (early-onset cancers) are changing. And in many instances increasing over time.
New analysis by World Cancer Research Fund and The American institute for Cancer Research examined how ...cancer trends have changed between 2000/2001 and 2023 in the United States and England.
Head to the link in bio to read more about what the latest statistics mean.
Do you remember ever mastering this trick? 𓀪 Over 11,200 people a year die from breast cancer in the UK - that’s 30 people a day. Take on our skipping challenge so we can fund more research into it! BOUNCE over to our link in bio. #Exercise #Smiles #Charity
This month is #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth! We never said our challenges would be easy. The countdown is on to consider our next one! If you raise £150, a pink beanie is yours... You'll also be supporting breast cancer research. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and the ...second-most common cancer globally. Many women diagnosed with breast cancer are living with overweight or obesity, yet we don’t fully understand how this affects treatment outcomes or side effects. Our study at the @University of Southampton will find out more. #Diet #Exercise #Chemotherapy
🤸 WE ARE CHEERING YOU ON. 🤸
Who’s feeling bouncy? Many of our supporters across the UK are taking part in a skipping challenge this #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth to help fund vital breast cancer research.
Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breasts become damaged and ...grow abnormally, forming a lump or thickening, known as a tumour. Our fundraisers are helping us support research at @Uni_Southampton on how body composition and nutrition affect women with breast cancer.
We'll be sharing many who are skipping on our feed and in our upcoming stories, so please do leave a like to cheer them on. 🎉
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Skip to our good news. 😁
Since 2020, we’ve been funding a study which asks - is body weight a good enough way to decide how much chemotherapy someone should receive?
This is an observational study, simply setting out ways for this to be investigated in the future. This has ...now led onto a major, ambitious project at @Uni_Southampton, looking at the relationship between body composition and breast cancer treatment/recovery!
Each day we learn more. 😎
#Diet #Exercise #Chemotherapy
Being active has many benefits and helps to reduce your risk of cancer. 💪 Adults should aim to do 1 of the following: 1. At least 150 minutes a week (or 20–25 minutes a day) of moderate-intensity activity such as brisk walking. 2. 75 minutes a week (or 11 minutes a day) of vigorous-intensity... activity such as jogging or a workout. 3. A combination of moderate and vigorous activities. #Skipping #Outdoors #Immunotherapy
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, meet Alice.
Alice was just four years old when she lost her mum to breast cancer. Devastatingly, cancer has stolen four more people from Alice’s family.
Her sister, @amyconroy10, also faced cancer as a teenager before becoming a four-time ...Paralympian with @teamgb🏅
Today, Alice is turning pain into purpose. She works as a cancer nurse and is passionate about supporting prevention research, ensuring fewer families face the same heartbreak she did 🔬
This October, why not sign up to run the Tokyo Marathon with @wcrfuk to fund research that helps stop cancer in its tracks 👟
Visit the link in our bio today.
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