"Running has helped me through the toughest years of my life"

Sheila, of Richmond North Yorkshire, will be taking part in the Yorkshire 10 Mile in memory of her daughter Holly and to raise important funds and much-needed awareness for the charity, the NSPCC. 

In November 2021, Holly devastatingly lost her life to alcohol addiction. Aged only 34, Holly had spent many years battling her mental health struggles and had turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism. 

“Holly died in November 2021, aged just 34 years. She had everything to live for with a bright future ahead in her dream career as a lawyer and the love of her family and friends but Holly struggled with her mental health and turned to alcohol to help her cope with life and so she became addicted to alcohol.”

“We lost a daughter, her siblings lost a sister, her nephews and nieces lost an aunt and many people lost a dear friend.

“What was once a glass here or a glass there, became the driving force of Holly’s life, dictating everything she did or did not do.”

When Holly was in a ‘good place,’ she used swimming and running to help her mental health; we knew when she was not well when she did not run or do a workout but used alcohol to help blot out her mental state. This would then lead to another crisis and another intervention. In early 2020, Holly came to live with us in North Yorkshire. During 2020 and early 2021, with the help of our GP, the addiction services and community mental health support, Holly had periods when she was sober and would enjoy swimming and running but these were frequently followed by crises which would result in medical intervention and stays in hospital.

Inspired to run by Holly, who described by Sheila was a ‘fitness fanatic’, Sheila started running during the last lockdown in January 2021. Holly was living with Shelia at the time in North Yorkshire, “Holly encouraged me to “get fit” and do the “Couch to 5K”. I completed the programme and continued running as often as possible. We were all optimistic about Holly’s future when she returned to work as a lawyer working from home, even though she relapsed several times and had to ‘drink down’.”

“Following professional advice, in August 2021 Holly moved to Manchester to be close to her offices and friends. Initially Holly was excited about her future, but her addiction once again took control and Holly died in November 2021.”

“Running has helped me through the toughest years of my life; I am alone with Peggy dog and my thoughts, and I also feel close to Holly. I run three times a week, usually first thing and on ‘rest’ days I do the Strength for Runners on the Her Spirit App and have recently joined the local gym.”

Holly loved children; she was a great, fun-loving auntie to her nephews and nieces and her friends children too. She supported children's charities by making donations and helping out at children's groups as part of her work as a lawyer.

The NSPCC is the leading children's charity fighting to end child abuse in the UK and Channel Islands. They help children who have been abused to rebuild their lives, protect those at risk, and find the best ways of preventing abuse from ever happening."

Sheila will be returning to the Yorkshire 10 Mile for the second time this year, having recently completed her first marathon in London of April this year.  

“As Holly told me once while out walking the dogs, ‘keep running even when I’m no longer around.’ I will be running in Holly’s memory, and I hope she would have been proud. Holly will be with me every step of the way.”

Please support Sheila by clicking here

Entries are still open for the Yorkshire 10 Mile, taking place on Sunday 20^th October. To find out more and sign up click here