A Bath mum who faced every parent’s worst fear is preparing to run the Bath Half 2026 to thank the hospital teams who cared for her son when he was just days old. And she’ll be joined by another RUH patient who is taking on the challenge after life-saving cancer treatment.
When Catherine’s son, Reuben, arrived five weeks early, life changed in an instant. At five days old he was in the NICU at the Royal United Hospital, struggling to breathe after contracting viral meningitis. For Catherine, it was a time filled with shock, fear and an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
“It was surreal, you feel helpless,” she says. Music became her coping mechanism, helping her process the reality of becoming a NICU mum overnight. Today, Reuben is a thriving eight-year-old, and Catherine has turned her experience into a song – With Time There is Hope – written to comfort families facing similar battles.
Now 46, Catherine is taking on the Bath Half as her way of giving back to RUHX, the official charity of RUH Bath. “The warmth of the smiles of the doctors and nurses meant everything,” she says. She will also run in memory of her mum, who died suddenly in 2012, and her twin brother, who did not survive after birth. “Running is part of my grieving process. It’s about showing up – for myself and for others.”
On race day she’ll be joined by Scales the Dragon, the puppet she uses in her music classes for little ones. For Catherine, the event is about community, resilience and the quiet connection between families who have faced their own turning points. “When I watch the Bath Half, I feel there’s a collective of humanity,” she says. “We all have these stories. It’s about coming together for loved ones and for those we’ve lost.”
Among those stories is Charles’, who lives in the Mendip Hills and is also running for RUHX. At 53, he was fast-tracked to RUH Bath after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. “From day one, the care was superb,” he says. Several months of radiotherapy, infusion-led chemotherapy and major surgery followed, with nurses, stoma care specialists and physiotherapists guiding him through every stage.
“Every team member we have met has been superb, caring and professional,” he adds. “Being given a positive prognosis made me up for the fight.” Charles had originally planned to take part in the Macmillan Mighty Hike, but treatment made it impossible, so he and his wife completed two half marathons instead, raising thousands. The Bath Half is now his moment to “give something back”.
His consultant’s advice – that there is no substitute for staying active before and after treatment – has driven him forward, with daily walks now part of his routine.
Families who would like to join Catherine, Charles and #TeamRUHX in supporting extraordinary care at their local hospital can sign up for Bath Half 2026 at ruhx.org.uk/events.
