Among them is Chloe Hooper, who overcame a devastating spinal injury at age 12, is running for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Charity.
Kavita Trevena, founder of The Unlikely Mummy, returns to champion maternal mental health through her growing support network. And Frederick Leica, originally from Kenya, is running for Amnesty International UK, embracing the sport he once resisted to support global human rights. Here are their powerful personal stories.
Chloe was just 12 years old when she broke her back in four places and was told she may never walk again.
Now 23, Chloe from Rayleigh in Essex, is taking part in her first ever The Big Half for the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Charity which raises funds to support breakthroughs in research, treatment and care of patients at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust (RNOH) in London.
Chloe said: “I broke my back when I was 12 and without the intervention and care of RNOH I would have been bound to a wheelchair for life. I had to have a spinal infusion with two rods and eight screws inserted into my spinal column. The RNOH gave me back the ability to walk. Thanks to their revolutionary work and my exceptional surgeon, I have made a full recovery. I will be forever grateful for their amazing team and the work that they do.”
Ten years on from the incident, Chloe has made a full recovery and is not only able to walk but is now preparing to run her first half marathon at The Big Half this September.
She said: “I am an avid climber, and I also like mountain biking, but The Big Half 2025 is my first ever half marathon and I hope to raise lots of money to help the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital’s work!
Chloe hopes to raise more than £350 for the hospital so they can continue to provide groundbreaking research and support to those facing similar trauma and uncertainty.
Follow Chloe's fundraising journey: Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Charity: Chloe’s fundraising for RNOH Big Half
Mother-of-two Kavita is taking part in The Big Half for the second time as part of The Unlikely Mummy, a support group she founded after experiencing perinatal mental health challenges following the birth of both of her daughters.
Having lived with her own low self-esteem and mental health challenges, Kavita focused her energies on creating a welcoming and inclusive community for others. The Unlikely Mummy support group offers a variety of free or low-cost activities including walking groups, a Mum Run Club, forest woodland retreats, bespoke mentoring, and counselling sessions.
Kavita (pictured above one in from the right) says: “My personal journey into running began after facing the physical and emotional challenges of parenting. I became overweight and lost confidence in myself. Taking on the challenge of The Big Half last year was my way of reclaiming my strength, not just physically, but mentally. It gave me purpose, discipline, and hope.
“In 2024, The Unlikely Mummy had a team of nine runners who raised more than £1,200 – enabling us to offer counselling to four more mothers in need. This year, in 2025, our team has grown to 14 runners with a goal of raising £3,000 which will help us reach more women and grow sustainably as a community-led organisation.”
Hailing from Kenya, Frederick, was witness to the thriving running culture in his home country but resisted the urge to get involved in the sport until he moved to London.
Since moving to the UK, the 40-year-old has found joy in the local running communities and is now looking forward to taking part in The Big Half for the first time.
Frederick says: “Coming from Kenya, you would think running would be second nature to me but I loathed it - hated it! But (since moving to London) it has offered a great escape and opened the doors to a community of people united by their love of running. When I run I do so for those who are unable to and I imagine I am carrying their hopes and aspirations with me every step I take.”
At the forefront of his mind is those supported by Amnesty International UK, the charity he is raising funds for by taking part in The Big Half 2025. As a global movement of more than 10 million people, Amnesty International is the world's largest grassroots human rights organisation.
“I am thrilled to be fundraising for Amnesty International UK – a charity very close to my heart,” said Frederick. “I am glad I can support their amazing work – protecting and documenting human rights across the world. And at the same time have fun while I am doing what I love the most…running!”
Follow Frederick's fundraising journey: Amnesty International UK: Running with Fred & Amnesty international