Fareham navy police officer will take on a parkrun every week this year - including the day before the London Marathon

A ROYAL Navy police officer has set herself the challenge of running a 5km parkrun every Saturday for a year '“ even the day before she takes on the London Marathon this weekend.
Leading Regulator Sophia Hurlo, who is based at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, with her dog PerryLeading Regulator Sophia Hurlo, who is based at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, with her dog Perry
Leading Regulator Sophia Hurlo, who is based at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, with her dog Perry

Leading Regulator Sophia Hurlo, who is based at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, has taken on the challenge to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK in memory of her grandmother who was afflicted by the degenerative brain disease.

The 39-year-old is urging supporters to sponsor her a small amount a week – 50p per parkrun – which she hopes will build to a large sum for the charity.

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And after winning a place in this Sunday’s London Marathon, she is hoping to raise even more for the UK’s leading dementia research charity.

Sophia Hurlo and PerrySophia Hurlo and Perry
Sophia Hurlo and Perry

Sophia is a regular at the Whiteley parkrun with her three-year-old whippet Perry.

She is also going to run at some of the other parkruns in Hampshire as well as others around the country, including the Colchester parkrun which her mum attends and a parkrun in London the day before the London Marathon.

She said: ‘My New Year’s resolution was to run a parkrun every Saturday and I wanted to support Alzheimer’s Research UK as my nan had Alzheimer’s. She died in 2010 from cancer, but she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s the year before.

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‘Her final year was a real struggle. The days that she didn’t recognise her own family were the hardest. It was heartbreaking.’

Sophia HurloSophia Hurlo
Sophia Hurlo

Sophia is delighted to have secured a place in the London Marathon, which means she will be able to achieve a long-standing ambition.

She said: ‘I applied for the ballot but didn’t get in. I was quite upset as I’d set myself the aim of running the London Marathon before I was 40 and this year is my last chance to do that.

‘I entered a competition with Holiday Inn and mentioned my parkrun challenge in the application. I got an email saying I’d won. I was delighted but also felt a little sick as I’d have to train to run a marathon.’

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Kenneth Foreman, senior sporting events manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: ‘Alzheimer’s Research UK is proud to be the official charity partner of parkrun UK, so we are delighted Sophia is raising money for us with her own challenge as well as choosing to support us after winning a place in the London Marathon.

Sophia Hurlo and PerrySophia Hurlo and Perry
Sophia Hurlo and Perry

‘The vital funds raised by her and the 300 people running the London Marathon for Alzheimer’s Research UK ­– a record for the charity – will power world-class dementia research projects and help bring an end to the fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia.’

Sophia has also signed up for Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Running Down Dementia campaign.

Launched at the beginning of April and is now in its third year, the campaign challenges people to run 100km before August 31 and raise £100. To sign up go to runningdowndementia.org

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To sponsor Sophia, visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SophiaHurlo

For further information about Alzheimer’s Research UK, or to find out more about fundraising for the charity, call 0300 111 5555 or visitalzheimersresearchuk.org