Sarah Allen, 37, has taken on the challenge which includes a race in Barry to mark the 10-year anniversary of her parents’ deaths in 2016.
Both her mother, Celia, 53, and father, Stephen, 61, sadly lost their battles with cancer and were cared for at Tŷ Olwen Hospice.
The hospice is a specialist palliative care unit that supports patients at the end of their lives.
Sarah is determined to give back to the hospice by raising as much money as possible through her 10K runs.
Sarah, an operations manager at a children’s home, said: “I’m running one 10K for every year since my parents have passed away.
“I’ve been wanting to raise money for Tŷ Olwen for a while, and the 10-year anniversary seemed like a good chance to do it.”
Sarah’s sister, Stephanie, and brother, Paul, are also planning their own fundraising challenges in memory of their parents.
The family’s ordeal began in 2014 when Stephen was diagnosed with stomach cancer, followed by Celia’s diagnosis in 2015.
Sarah shared: “With my dad, they sadly caught his cancer too late.
“He had chemo to prolong his life and battled for a while.
“Mum was then diagnosed in October 2015 and was riddled with it.
“She passed away in January 2016, and dad followed in the August.
“To add to the chaos, I had a baby that year too.
“Sadly, my daughter never got to meet my mother, but she did get to briefly meet my father.
“It was a very stressful time, but having my baby that year saved me – things might have been very different otherwise.”
Sarah fondly remembers her father as an active man, a dedicated bus driver, and an Elvis Presley fan who loved playing darts and doting on his pet dogs.
He was initially misdiagnosed with indigestion and then gallstones, only discovering his cancer after collapsing in pain.
Her mother, whom Sarah describes as a strong and fiercely protective woman, worked in the care industry and kept her diagnosis a secret until the prognosis was unfavourable.
Despite being separated before their diagnosis, Celia and Stephen supported each other until the end.
Sarah said: “They were both fantastic people and so well liked, both of their funerals were packed out.”
Both Stephen and Celia spent time at Tŷ Olwen before their passing.
The hospice goes above and beyond to ensure the comfort and happiness of its patients.
Sarah recalled a touching memory, saying: “I found out I was pregnant with a girl while my mum was at Tŷ Olwen.
“She passed away two days after discovering she was going to have a granddaughter.
“When we went to clear her belongings, we found a little pink blanket that a member of staff had got for her to give to me.
“They help to make special memories for so many of their patients, whether that’s seeing their last rugby game or doing something else they love one last time, so I want to raise as much as I can so they can continue doing this for others.”
The charity relies heavily on donations, and Sarah and her siblings aim to raise at least £3,000 between them.
Their children are also involved in the fundraising, planning a big walk and a donation drive at school.
Sarah, who only started running two years ago, is taking part in the Run 4 Wales 10K Series.
The series includes races in Newport, Barry Island, Porthcawl, and Cardiff.
The Barry Island 10K takes place on Sunday, May 17, with the Porthcawl 10K on July 5.
The 40th edition of the CDF 10K is the final event in the R4W 10K Series, which takes place on Sunday, September 6.
Sarah added: “My club Run 4 All in Neath, as well as my gym, Unit 9, have both helped me massively, and I wouldn’t have had the confidence to take on this challenge without them.”
Matt Newman, Chief Executive at Run 4 Wales, said: “What an incredible challenge Sarah is taking on to raise money for such a fantastic cause in memory of her parents.
“We very much look forward to welcoming her across our 10K events and wish her the beast of luck with her training and her fundraising.”
