A MALVERN charity which supports families who have children with disabilities is celebrating the success of its first runner in the Worcester City 10km race.
Cassie Zoro took part in Sunday’s event as the final stage of a personal challenge to run 30kms to help raise awareness and celebrate Malvern Special Families which is celebrating its 30th birthday this year.
She completed the demanding course in just over an hour.
“At the start of the year I could not run at all,” said Cassie.
“I joined the Malvern Joggers’ couch to 5km programme in January to get back into fitness after having a baby and I started out by raising sponsorship for MSF for a 5km race.
“I then set myself a challenge to run 30kms in stages over the course of the year and I am delighted to have finished my challenge.
“I wanted to raise awareness of MSF because I have seen first-hand how fantastic the small charity is.”
Cassie’s personal challenge saw her run four different 5km races across the West Midlands with her final stage running the Worcester 10km.
Her biggest challenges were overcoming blisters and extreme weather conditions while her favourite run was a ‘chocolate run’ with chocolate bars given out along the way for added motivation.
The most challenging of the runs were a hot and hilly course at Croome Court as well as a 5km dirt run in the torrential rain and mud in the Wyre Forest.
“I have found all the training and races physically and mentally challenging and I am so proud of myself for sticking to it,” added Cassie.
“Every step of the way I have thought about our charity and what a positive difference it makes to our MSF families’ lives and appreciated the fact that I am lucky to be able to enjoy the freedom of running, which is not something everybody can do.”
