RUNNING FOR HOPE: HOW ONE HOYLAKE WOMAN TURNED DETERMINATION INTO 100 DAYS OF GIVING
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RUNNING FOR HOPE: HOW ONE HOYLAKE WOMAN TURNED DETERMINATION INTO 100 DAYS OF GIVING
Hoylake resident and wellness studio owner Victoria Crowden laced up her trainers with a bold idea and an even bigger heart. The owner of Revive Spin and Stretch— a boutique indoor cycling, yoga and Pilates studio in the heart of Hoylake— set out to complete a 5km run every single day for an entire month, all in aid of Clatterbridge Cancer Charity. What began as a personal challenge quickly evolved into an extraordinary community effort that would ultimately span 100 days, test physical and mental limits, and raise vital funds for life-saving cancer care.
Victoria was joined by a group of 12 women from her studio, none of whom would describe themselves as runners. Each had their own deeply personal reasons for taking part, and together they committed to running daily for 30 consecutive days. Along the way, the group battled sore muscles, illness, injuries and even falls— yet not one of them gave up.
“ For a group of non-runners, what these women achieved was phenomenal,” Victoria says.“ I couldn’ t be prouder. Our little team really pulled together to keep each other motivated on the tough days.” By the end of the initial month, the sense of achievement was overwhelming— but for Victoria, the journey wasn’ t over. Inspired by the resilience of the group and driven by her own personal circumstances, she made the decision to extend the challenge beyond its original goal. Her vision grew into something truly remarkable: 100 days of running, culminating in a dramatic finale of ten consecutive 5km runs along the Hoylake promenade on Day 100.
Adding another emotional layer to the challenge, Victoria’ s 19-yearold son Shea pledged to take part in the final ten races alongside her. Shea, who had never been a runner—“ he hadn’ t even run for a bus,” Victoria laughs— committed fully, even requiring a brand-new pair of trainers to get started. His decision to join his mum for the finale became one of the most heart-warming aspects of the entire challenge. The grand finale took place on 9th December— coinciding with the arrival of Storm Bram. With winds reaching up to 50km / h and relentless rain battering the coast, the conditions were some of the harshest imaginable. Undeterred, Victoria, Shea and Simon— a childhood friend of Victoria’ s husband— gathered at 6:30am to begin the first run of the day.
The races continued throughout the day, with the final 5km starting at 5:45pm just as the storm reached its peak.
“ Running in challenging weather just makes it more interesting,” Victoria joked, her trademark positivity shining through even in the toughest moments.
Throughout the day, friends, family members and Revive studio clients turned up in force— some to cheer from the sidelines, others to join Victoria for one, two, or even four of the races. The Hoylake promenade became a place of encouragement, camaraderie and shared purpose, proving once again the strength of community spirit on the Wirral.
At the heart of Victoria’ s dedication to this challenge is her husband, Neil, who is currently undergoing pioneering immunotherapy treatment at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. Witnessing his journey has given Victoria an unshakeable determination to raise both funds and awareness for the charity that is supporting their family through one of the most challenging periods of their lives.
“ We are so lucky to live in the postcode that we do,” Victoria explains.“ Clatterbridge is on our doorstep, and unfortunately we know firsthand just how caring, professional and incredible the team there is. The groundbreaking research funded by Clatterbridge Cancer Charity will improve treatment options and save lives in the future. We’ re happy to support this charity in any way we can.”
Victoria and Neil have long been supporters of the Clatterbridge Cancer Charity through their own initiative, The Captain’ s Trust. For this challenge, they pledged to match all donations raised, ensuring every contribution made an even greater impact.
As the 100-day challenge comes to a close, the response from the community has exceeded all expectations. Donations continue to pour in, and the story of Revive’ s runners stands as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through determination, compassion and collective effort.
To support the campaign or make a donation, visit: justgiving. com / page / reviverunners5kaday
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