“I’m running for my family and for future families who might need the support of Sue Ryder”

On Sunday, 26 April, Emma will join thousands of runners on the streets of London. The marathon will be the first in a series of fundraisers she is planning in support of Sue Ryder, which runs Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough. 

“I decided that if I was going to raise money, I wanted to do it for a cause that directly helps my local community, one that my family and others around me may need in the future, and one where I could clearly see where the money goes,” Emma shares. 

“My husband’s aunt, Christine, received end-of-life care at Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice, and hearing from her family about the support the charity gave to her, and to them all, was inspiring.” 

Emma adds: “When you think about every family accessing Sue Ryder services and the challenges they face every single day, it really puts things into perspective. It’s such a worthwhile cause, and that’s why I wanted to do it.” 

For personal trainer and business owner Emma, running the London Marathon has always been on her bucket list. But while she has completed a marathon before, she admits running is not her first passion. 

“I love fitness, the joy it brings, the opportunities it opens up, and the people you meet, but give me a HYROX-style event, a weights challenge, Clubbercise, rugby, netball or tennis any day. I am not a natural runner. That’s what makes it even more challenging,” Emma explains. 

“I won’t break any records, but I will finish the marathon. I’m treating it as an adventure, and I’m really excited to be running it for Sue Ryder. That’s what it’s all about for me.” 

Emma is fitting her training around family life with her husband, eight-year-old daughter Lyla, and 16-month-old son Rory. Alongside this, she runs her business as a personal trainer and fitness instructor and helps run her husband’s businesses, One Touch Football, which delivers sports provision in schools, and at its new indoor football facility, Redz Arena.  

“It’s the fit mum juggle,” she says. “Time is so valuable when you are a mum, so it’s impossible to stick to a strict training regime. I want to show other mums that you don’t have to follow the perfect 12- or 16-week plan to succeed. I get out when I can and do my long runs at weekends. I keep reminding myself it’s just one foot in front of the other, it’s going to hurt, but it’s going to be a memorable day!” 

“My daughter is so excited to come to London and watch me run the marathon; sometimes she even comes out with me for a quick 30-minute early morning run.” 

“I am a firm believer that you have got to live life. I hope my story inspires other people to think, ‘Do you know what? I can do it too.’ Everybody has got a story to tell and a suitcase to unpack. For me, exercise helps with all of that, which is why I love it.” 

Last year, 109 runners raised £453,000 for Sue Ryder, helping to provide hundreds of thousands of hours of expert care and support for people approaching the end of their lives. 

Motivated by the difference she can make, Emma is going one step further by committing to fundraise for the charity throughout the rest of the year, with a goal of raising £5,000. 

“I thought to myself, let’s not rush it. Let’s do it properly. Let’s do the charity justice,” she says. “So, in addition to the marathon, I am holding a Clubbercise event in Stamford on 31 March, along with a weekly scratch card fundraiser, a summer ball on the horizon and a charity golf day.” 

Supporting Emma on the day will be her husband and children, as well as a minibus full of her clients. She is hoping to run the final stretch with her two young children before heading home for a marathon party, making it a truly memorable family celebration. 

Emma has also organised a Sponsor a Mile initiative and will be running while speaking to her sponsors over the phone during “their” mile. She hopes this will give her extra motivation to keep going every step of the way. 

To support Emma’s fundraising: https://www.justgiving.com/page/emmavaughanpt

Want to join #TeamSueRyder in the TCS London Marathon 2027? Register your interest today https://www.sueryder.org/get-involved/fundraise-for-us/events/tcs-london-marathon-2027/