Four runners completed the Henley Half Marathon last Sunday and raised over £1400 for Riverside.
Jonny Wooldridge, Angharad Massie, Ollie and Josh Crossley completed the challenging 13.1 miles which follows a scenic route through the town, over the iconic Henley Bridge, and along the Thames Valley. The course is known for its challenging features, including the famous “heartbreak hill,” a mile-long climb that tests the endurance of many runners near the end.
Jonny was first home in 1:31 minutes. Afterwards he said, “The course was really pretty as it’s really autumnal at the moment. It was quite tough but there was good support all the time. I managed 1:31 which is my PB from about five years ago – I’m trying to defeat the aging process!”
Jonny sought therapy six years ago. He said, “Therapy holds a special place in my heart, because I found it immensely helpful and I’ve stayed with the same therapist ever since. I’m lucky enough to be able to afford it. I think it must be really hard to need counselling or be scared of going into counselling and then not being able to afford it. I hope that the money I’ve raised today, if it just starts a few people on their therapy journey, that would be amazing.”
Josh was running his first every half marathon. He and his brother Ollie came over the line together in 1:47. Josh said, “It felt a bit tough towards the end but I’m very, very happy to finish. Josh and Ollie’s Mum Claire was former Head of Therapeutic Services at Riverside. Josh added, “It’s been brilliant to support Riverside because it’s so close to my Mum’s heart and what she was doing at the charity. It’s great for us to be able to give back to people in the local area.”
Ollie has previously completed the London Marathon in 2019 and did the Swansea half marathon in June this year. He said, “I’m starting to get back into my running now. My legs were really heavy at the start but I burnt through that and my legs got a bit lighter. The hill was absolutely brutal! It gets steeper and steeper and then at the top you go flying down. With Mum working at Riverside for so long, it feels like she’s made a big impact. She’s always loved the work that she’s done with Riverside. So obviously when we got the opportunity to do this it was a great chance for us to raise some money for a charity that needs the money for the people that really need the service.”
Angharad Massie gave her time free to Riverside earlier this year. She runs Fearless PR in Henley and helped with launching our Friends of Riverside. After completing the half marathon in 2:22 she said, “There’s no better incentive to push through the last few, long miles than the knowledge that you’re raising vital funds for people in need within our local community. Thank you to all who sponsored me and thank you to Riverside Counselling Service for the help and support you offer.”