Mums On The Run

Mother Runners was set up as a way of helping the mums of Barnsley keep their mental and physical health strong. Since then, despite lockdown, the group has gone from strength-to-strength while raising vital funds for charity.

Kayla set up the group when she turned 40 - she decided she needed a positive lifestyle change and so took up running.

She says, “Mother Runners is a place for mums to come together to help with their physical and more importantly mental health.”

The project is just one of the many inspiring grassroots organisations that receive support from the £30m raised for good causes by National Lottery players every week.

Over lockdown the group inspired women in the local area to use the time to look after their physical health and created an online community where they were open about their challenges and mental health.

“As lockdown happened, we kept in contact online and began introducing new members to the group. We were running individually and cheering each other on virtually,” she says.

“Barnsley Hospice set up a route for runners to take part in and so we thought that it would be good for us to do because obviously all races have been cancelled,” she added. With support from the National Lottery, the group also began raising money for the hospice.

Kayla will be celebrated this week as The Paula Radcliffe Athletics track is renamed in her honour The Kayla Kavanagh Athletic Track – the dedication is in celebration of her work supporting the local community via sport to stay active, happy and motivated during the coronavirus crisis.