Katie has signed up to take part in the ABP Newport Marathon Festival on Sunday 13 April and also the Gower Peninsula Ultra Challenge on Saturday 19 July to raise money to enable people to access onsite support at the Seibiant Sanctuary.

Platfform officially launched The Seibiant Sanctuary in October 2024, in partnership with Cardiff & Vale University Health Board. The service is Cardiff and the Vale’s first non-clinical, community-based and trauma informed alternative to A&E offering emotional support. The Sanctuary is open 365 days a year from 5pm to 1am, however, due to the lack of out-of-hours public transport, people who are facing a mental health crisis and who may be struggling financially, may find it physically impossible to get a lift or taxi there to get the help they need.

Katie commented: “Being able to offer a safe space for anyone struggling with their mental health is so rewarding, but we face one barrier when it comes to transport into the Sanctuary itself. The cost of taxis is prohibitive for most, however, I’m hoping that my marathons will raise enough money so people can get to see us in person. After last year’s fundraising, we were able to offer more people financial support for taxis, to enable them to access the service. I managed to raise £840 at the 2024 Newport Marathon so thought I’d take on the challenge again. I’ve also signed up to take part in the Gower Peninsula Ultra Challenge – my first 50km ultra! – to add to the funds to make sure we can keep providing free transport.” 

Since Katie’s fundraising efforts last year, the team has seen a huge increase in visits from people accessing their services with more people getting the help they need, freeing up pressure on the NHS and A&E departments.

The ABP Newport Marathon Festival on Sunday 13 April has four categories – marathon, half marathon, 10k and mile – and Katie is aiming to complete the full marathon of 26.2 miles in under 4 hours and 15 minutes, aiming to beat her time of 4 hours 30 minutes last year. The Ultra marathon will be a completely new challenge for Katie, so the aim is to finish rather than complete it in a set time.

Katie always wanted to share some challenges she’s faced along the way: “Last year, I faced a back injury right before the marathon, which made me question if I could even participate. However, I pushed through and managed to run the race. The experience taught me a lot about perseverance, recovery, and the importance of listening to my body. This year, I’m running it again, and I’ve learned from my previous mistakes. I’ve adjusted my training, recovery routines, and overall mindset to ensure I’m better prepared and less prone to injury. I’m excited to take on the challenge again with a new perspective! Running is undoubtedly challenging both mentally and physically, but the positive effect it has on your mental health is truly incredible – and if I can raise money to help others whilst doing it, it’s a win-win situation.”

Katie hopes to raise £1k or more by completing the races, commenting: