Ulrich Medjiako, 36, from Romford, will take on the Big Half this September in support of Havering Mind, the local mental health charity that helped him rebuild his confidence and wellbeing during one of the most challenging periods of his life.
Becoming a father was a blessing, but it also brought unexpected pressures for Ulrich (pictured with his family above) as he tried to balance the demands of work and family life. He ended up experiencing burnout on two occasions and began to feel isolated and disconnected from himself. He struggled with his mental health, his memory was affected and he began to see his neurodiversity as a weakness rather than a strength.
Recognising he needed help, Ulrich opened up to those around him and contacted Havering Mind for support, a local mental health charity. The help and advice he received, alongside NHS Talking Therapies and support from his family and workplace, meant that he gradually found the tools he needed to recover and move forward.
Taking on the Big Half, his first ever running event, is Ulrich’s way of giving back to the organisation that played such an important role in his life.
He said: “Opening up changed everything. Support from my family, Havering Mind and NHS Talking Therapies gave me the tools I needed to rebuild. After four years of showing up and doing the work, I've found peace, purpose and hope.
“Havering Mind was my lifeline. Their support helped me regain confidence and move forward, which is why I'm proud to be fundraising for them. I want others who are struggling to know that they are not alone and that help is available.”
When Panayiotis, 63 from Ealing, known to many in the running community as “Mountain Thunder”, lines up for the Big Half, he will be doing so for the thousands of men and families whose lives have been affected by prostate cancer.
Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018, Panayiotis has turned one of the most difficult experiences of his life into an extraordinary fundraising and awareness campaign for Prostate Cancer UK. Since his diagnosis, he has raised more than £72,000 for the charity, with every mile helping to fund lifesaving research and support for men and their families affected by the disease.
Following 32 sessions of radical radiotherapy at Charing Cross Hospital in 2019, Panayiotis was told he was in remission. But his journey with prostate cancer was far from over.
In 2023, his cancer returned and he required further treatment. Then, towards the end of 2025, further test results led to more investigations, making the past year another challenging chapter.
Running has become much more than a hobby. It has provided friendship, community and a sense of purpose, while also giving Panayiotis a powerful platform to raise awareness of prostate cancer. He has even helped build a running community, The Espresso Runners, from the coffee house where he works, bringing people together under the simple but fitting motto: “5K to coffee!”
This year, Panayiotis has set himself another ambitious fundraising challenge, taking on a packed calendar of events including the TCS London Marathon, the Big Half, the Oysho Royal Parks Half Marathon and even an ultra-marathon challenge, as he continues his mission to raise a further £20,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
Supported by his partner Debra, friends and a loyal community in Ealing and beyond, Panayiotis is determined to keep the conversation around prostate cancer going.
He said: “Prostate cancer is not just my story; it is the story of so many individuals and families. One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. That could be a dad, partner, brother, son, grandad, uncle or mate.
“If sharing my story encourages even one man to get checked or speak to their GP, then everything I have been through will have had an even greater purpose.”
Meg Lines, 24, from Southampton, will be taking on the Big Half this September in memory of her mum, who died suddenly from a brain aneurysm in March 2022, just two weeks before her 47th birthday.
The unimaginable loss had a profound impact on Meg and her family. In the midst of their grief, her mum became an organ donor, giving others the chance of life and leaving behind a lasting legacy of kindness and generosity.
Three years on, Meg is running the Big Half, her first-ever half marathon, in her mum’s honour while raising money for The Brain Charity, which supports people affected by neurological conditions. Through her fundraising, she hopes to raise awareness of brain aneurysms and support families facing similar challenges. Meg has already raised more than £1,400 and has smashed her fundraising target.
She said: “Losing my mum so unexpectedly has been one of the hardest things my family and I have ever experienced. She was someone who had such an impact on my life and the lives of so many others, having been a devoted and beloved primary school teacher for so many years.
“I’m proud to be supporting The Brain Charity and helping to raise awareness of brain aneurysms, which can happen without warning and have a devastating impact on families. Every donation means so much and helps support people affected by neurological conditions.”
