Step Into The Magic: Our First Show Cancer the V was a Huge Success!

A Special Start to the Day

The day started with sunshine and blue skies – a promising sign! At 8am, participants gathered for our very first Quiet Run, which we were so proud to be able to offer to those who prefer a more relaxed, quieter atmosphere.

With silent clapping, support runners, and music volumes reduced to 30%, everyone who took part had a fantastic time. Sarah completed the distance with her son Leo, and she told us: “It gives us, as a family, the opportunity to get involved in larger events, which we’re not normally able to.” Leo added: “It was absolutely amazing; it was really good.”

We’d like to say a massive thank you to Phillips Wellbeing, who sponsored all the wellbeing aspects of this event and cut the ribbon at the start of our Quiet Run. Wayne Phillips told us: “To acknowledge that some people don’t want to run in crowds, some people might feel overwhelmed – it’s a lot of the things that, at Phillips Wellbeing, we deal with. So, to cut the ribbon at the start of that race was a fantastic moment”.

Studio Tarw Bring High Energy and Hype

We were delighted to welcome the incredible Alex and Ally from Studio Tarw to warm everyone up ready for the 5km and 10km distances – and they really brought the party!

Speaking just before jumping on stage, Alex told us “We’re going to achieve something incredible here today, and we can’t wait to be a part of it!”

The dynamic duo led a high-energy dance and stretch party – and our participants gave it their absolute all! By the time the duo had finished their session by jumping off stage and high fiving the crowds, the excitement was at its peak!

Thank you so much to Alex and Ally for coming down and giving our participants an epic boost before they took on their chosen distance!

Special Thank You to Veezu

We’d like to say a huge thank you to our headline sponsors Veezu, not only for everything they have supported us with in the build up to this event – but for bringing incredible energy and smiles on the day!

From foam fingers to spin the wheel, they truly made their mark – and none of this would have been possible without them! Speaking on the day, Sally, Brand Activation Manager at Veezu, told us: “Velindre is at the heart of cancer care in Wales, and we wanted to show our support at Veezu. We are really pleased to be here and can’t wait to see all the runners!”

Swipe through some of Veezu’s special moments on the day:

Activities, Music, Food, and our Fantastic Velindre Staff!

There were plenty of activities and fun to be had in our wellbeing area and the surrounding tents – from face painting and sports massages being offered for everyone to enjoy, to the wonderful NVCC team who came out in full force with building blocks and painting activities for the kids!

Ambassadors from 5km Your Way chatted to people about the importance of physical and mental wellbeing, as well as accessibility and inclusivity for all.

Phillips Wellbeing shined a spotlight on the psychological impacts of dealing with cancer and showcased the lovely lion teddies. The team were joined by our Supportive Care Lead Nurse, Michelle Pengelly, who was able to chat to participants about the children and family resources Velindre offer. Natalie Stroud and Diana Purnell joined Michelle in engaging with questions about the staff and services – as well as taking part in the run themselves!Michelle told us:”The whole day has been really uplifting and positive, and people are seeing what they are raising money for, which is really important”.

Our NVCC team were happy to talk about the progress of the new cancer centre and came prepared with branded suncream and temporary tattoos – which were a huge hit! The team also brought smiles and energy to the finish line, cheering on our runners with signs and words of encouragement.

Our staff weren’t the only cheerleaders of the day though – our volunteers, marshalls, and musical entertainers were on route to motivate our participants through each and every step. One participant said: “Great route, and the marshalls that ran with us supported us all the way”, and another told us”everyone got together, everyone was behind each other”.

And when our participants had worked up a well-deserved appetite, our fantastic food vendors were ready and waiting! From pizza to ice cream, our participants and their friends and families soaked up the sun on the field, listening to our musical acts and celebrating their hard-earned medals. One vendor told us: “We’re here today because it’s such a good cause locally… to have an opportunity to help out is something we love to do”.

We’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who came along to make this a magical day for our participants – from staff raising awareness, sponsors offering support, to local businesses offering their services, food, and drink, and entertainers offering their beautiful music. You made a special day even more memorable for our lovely patients, families, and participants – thank you!

Who Were You Running For?

Some of the most special moments of the day came from reading everyone’s ‘I’m running for…’ bibs. Designed for our participants to share their stories, celebrate and honour their loved ones, and carry them around the route in their hearts – the messages and sentiments were unbelievably moving.

Everyone was so willing and open to chat with us, and some beautiful conversations were had with so many of our staff members. One participant told us “I ran for Velindre today in memory of my dad, who died of a brain tumour nearly 5 years ago. Today’s event has been really good; it’s quite emotional reading all the stories”. Another shared “Our connection is through my wife Jane. 5 weeks of radiotherapy, and they were absolutely fantastic. Deserve all the support they can get. I think it’s important to raise funds for Velindre, for the charity, It’s a really worthwhile cause.

Another emotional aspect was the Wall of Hope, designed for people to write messages, dedications, and hopes for the those who matter most. To see the names, messages of encouragement, and memories of those we’ve lost was truly moving. As the Wall filled up over the course of the day, it really felt like everyone was coming together to bond over shared experiences, emotions, and motivations.

To everyone who shared their story – whether to our team, on your running bibs, or on the Wall of Hope – thank you. Patients, families, and staff are the heart of #TeamVelindre, and being able to champion your experiences and be your voice is our most important role of all.

Fabulous Finish Line Moments

There were so many incredible finish line moments, all captured on camera by our lovely photographers. The air was full of people showing the V as they crossed the finish line, hugging their loved ones, high fiving family members, or pushing prams and wheelchairs.

As our finishers came over the line, we asked them for some finish line thoughts – and everyone said lovely things about the day!

The first runner over the line in just 19 minutes was 13-year-old Hari Griffiths, one of our Young Ambassadors and the grandson of much-loved ambassadors Wayne and Jayne Griffiths. Hari told us “I feel amazing… it was a great experience. I’m really proud”.Hari’s family also took part – his 7-year-old sister Mili (also a Young Ambassador) ran the 1.5km, and mum Jenny took on the 10km route.

Another family who took on the 1.5km together told us: “We’ve done the run today in memory of my mum… she’d be really proud of us. Velindre looked after her and were amazing. We spent lots of hours in the Hospital of Hope… and we just wanted to give something back”.

Another young boy told us “I’m supporting my grandad and granny who lost their lives to cancer”. We were lucky to witness an emotional moment as his grandmother watched him cross the finish line, moved to tears.

There was so much positivity at the finish line as runners received their medals and queued up for their finisher photo. One lady told us: “It’s lovely to see everyone get together, who have lost family members or who have battled [cancer], and it’s lovely to see so many people here today, who’ve raised a lot of money”. Another said “Great to get everyone together for a good cause, and well done to everyone!”

Every single person who crossed the line on Sunday – whether you ran, jogged, walked, wheeled, or danced – well done! Thank you for showing up for #TeamVelindre and making us proud!

“It was a great experience. I’m really proud.”