Márjory's fundraiser for The Children's Hospital Charity

As an Associate Professor in Ethical Artificial Intelligence and Transforming Lives Fellow at Sheffield Hallam University, Marjory Da Costa-Abreu is running a number of races during this year and next to the support The National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT) at the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

Next weekend’s Sheffield Mutual Sheffield 10K is set to be one of these challenges for Marjory.

Why did you decide to sign up to this year’s Sheffield 10K?   

“As a researcher in Ethical Artificial Intelligence, one of my main application areas is Health. There is a growing interest in the data of children and young people in the area and as a result of that, the Childrens' Charity is funding the construction of the National Centre for Child Health Technology which will be a center where I will be one of the researchers.

“The NCCHT will be a place to develop world-leading research and build new technologies to solve the biggest challenges in children's healthcare.

“So, it made sense to use this challenge to fundraise for this place as well as open the conversation of the use of AI in Health data, especially children/young people' data.

Can you tell us a bit more about your running journey so far?

I have been running since 2017 and I have started after my mother passed away due to a long-term liver related health condition. I never thought I would run longer than 5kn distances, but I got the bug and especially during the pandemic, I started running for longer. In 2021, I did my first 10km for one of the Race for Life Breast Cancer free events. I am a regular in the Sheffield 10km and I did my first Sheffield 21km in 2024 and loved it!

Hopefully, my combination of nutrition specialist advice, physiotherapy support and weight-focus strength training, pilates and speed/long runs will keep me healthy to run for as long as I am alive.

Do you have any training tips for anyone taking on their first race?

Do not forget strength training and food is an essential part of the training.

Do you have a time you’re aiming for on the day?

I run to have fun. My aim will always be to finish any race feeling great and dancing samba at the Finish Line.

To support Marjory’s fundraising efforts, you can do so by clicking here

Entries are still open for the Sheffield Mutual Sheffield 10K taking place on Sunday 29th September. To find out more and enter, potential participants are encouraged to click here