Why I’m fundraising... Miles for Mum
In April 2026, I’ll be taking on the London Marathon to raise funds and awareness for Target Ovarian Cancer, the UK’s leading ovarian cancer charity, and to honour the memory of my wonderful mum.
I’m running in memory of my mum, Rae Harbird – a brilliant computer scientist, a hands-on nanny, and a truly one-of-a-kind mum. Like so many families affected by this disease, we lost her far too soon. Mum was just 60 when she died from ovarian cancer, 5 days before her final grandchild, my youngest, Cassie arrived.
Mum was an adventurer, she travelled round the world with me and Ella when we both went travelling, meeting us in Thailand, Brazil, New York, Guatemala and Australia and if we asked her to meet us anywhere - she’d always say yes. I’m not too sure I want to run 26 miles - but I know that if mum were here - she’d be saying yes for me. So here goes!
Ovarian cancer is often called the “silent killer” because it has very few symptoms in its early stages. As a result, many people are only diagnosed once the disease has already progressed. That’s why Target Ovarian Cancer’s work is so vital – improving early diagnosis, raising symptom awareness, and supporting everyone affected by ovarian cancer.
By supporting my fundraising, you’ll be helping to change outcomes for future families and honour the memory of someone who meant the world to me. Together, we can help transform the future for everyone diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Thank you to my Sponsors
£250
Jonathan Speller
£10
Ben Kemmish
Good luck on the day Ruby. Your story touched me as I know what it's like losing someone far too soon. Sending love and a few pennies for your fundraiser x
£20
Sam Livingstone
£53.32
Jake And Theo Gaines
Well done, we’re so proud of you. X
£31.51
John, Bex & The Gang X
Good luck Ruby! Thinking of you & Rae! ❤️❤️
£50
Maureen Ocallaghan
Ruby I’m so proud of you. I love your determination and know you’ll achieve your goal of completing the marathon 😘
£21.84
Will Cooper
Well done Ruby!
£20
Parveen Vilcassim
I am so sorry to hear about your mum - 60 is too young. This is such a lovely thing to do and a very important cause.
£32.23
Perry Cronin
Go smash it Rube’s, such a worthwhile cause so close to all our hearts xx
£21.84
Neil Stimpson
Wishing you good luck and hope you get through it pain free.
£21.84
Lucy Clarke
Go for it Ruby! We love you and what you are doing is amazing ATIAC x x x
£20
Beth Greenwood
Go Ruby go!
£27.05
Sarah Vandenberg-molina
You’re my hero xxxx
£20
Maggie
GO Ruby!! Will be cheering for you on the day!
£21.84
Kerry-anne Griffiths
So proud of you Ruby, you can do this!! What a superwoman you are xx
£10
Zee Healis
Awww mama Rae sounds amazing! And I’m sure she is smiling down and cheering your babygirl on !!! Go smash it Ruby you so got this
£50
Jason Brucher
#proudofmyaunty Ruby this such a great thing to do your mum will be super proud of you just like we all are
£21.36
Joey
£5
Phil C
Good luck and enjoy it!
£20
Lisa D
Well done Ruby!!
£5
Ruby Ransley
£21.84
Anonymous
£6.11
Alwyn
Good luck on a great cause.
£20
Anonymous
Wishing you the best! Rae was a lovely colleague and well missed.
£10
Jack Clarke
£30
Stacey Pix
Good luck Ruby! X
£10
Peg
Best of luck Ruby xx
£6.11
Jack Todd
Good luck and go strong Rubes!
£21.84
Nick O’dell
Good luck, Ruby!
£53.32
Andy Mcneill
Go Ruby!
£25
Db
Best of luck on Sunday, Ruby - what an amazing cause to keep you going. Don't forget to enjoy it!
£100
James, Sammy, Jenson @ Maverick Whitbread
All the very best Ruby, no doubt you will smash it! The Whitbreads
£20
Yasmin Abbaspour
Good Luck Ruby!
£50
Kayleigh, Matt Nate & Ade X
You got this mate so proud of you!! Xx
£21.84
Wesley Ip
You got this Ruby! See you in London
£53.32
Chris Duguid
Good luck with the training and will be a pleasure hitting the roads with you on the big day xXx
£30
Dara Love
Good luck Rubes! We’re proud of you! The Loves xxx
£21.84
Siobhan Hendricks
Well Done Squadger Medosher so proud of you Love you xxxxx
£21.84
David Swapp
£11.33
Audrey Bergin
Well done
£20
Kirsten Van Der Merwe
Go on Ruby! Making everyone proud 🩷 🏃♀️ xx
£20
Rosie
Good luck Ruby !
£106
Rob Jones
Go on Ruby!!!!
£10
Madhav
All the best xx
£10
Emma Shepherdson
Ruby you are incredible 👏🏻 we are so proud of you … now go beat the boys 🥰 😆
£27.05
Amy Stamp
Go go Ruby !! Your mum will be so proud Xx
£15
Kim Cooper
Good luck Ruby! You are a real life superhero xx
£50
Emma, Jordan & Callie
Good luck!! We’ll be cheering you on from afar on the day!
£27.05
Lauren Drabwell
Go smash it ! Run well and have fun !
£21.84
Megan C
£21.84
Danielle Tomlin
Good luck Ruby x
£53.32
Rob Noyce
Good luck Rublet
£27.05
Tim Bailey
We got this Rubes! ❤️
£21.84
Galer
Good luck Ruby You’ve got this 🏃🏼♀️💪🏼🫶🏻
£20
The Noakes Family
Best of luck for the big day Ruby xx
£50
Kelly Macfarlane
Go Ruby go!! You've got this, you absolute superwoman! Love Kelly & Pete x
£20
Carys Connolly
Good luck Ruby! Doing your Mum proud. I will be thinking of you on the big day xxx
£100
Kat Lampen
Ruby, you mum would be very proud of you, and so are we. You'll smash this! lots of love, Kat
£11.33
Ruby K
So touching to read about your lovely Mum and everyone’s comments about how incredible she was. Inspired by your ability to turn pain into purpose, and keep on smiling throughout, go Ruby!! May your angels be by your side your always 🤍
£20
Becca Lewis
Amazing cause and effort in memory of your mum, well done!!!
£50
Emmanuel
£21.84
Aimee G
Good luck Ruby!!
£50
Julie Young
Good luck Ruby❤️
£100
Ruby White
Donating £100 to kick off the 100 day countdown til the big day.. and to motivate myself to keep moving!
£31.51
Flis
Your mum sounds awesome - unsurprisingly! A great cause too. Best of luck for Sunday!
£50
Hannah Rogers
Good Luck Ruby, you are going to be amazing. We will be cheering you on with a large glass of wine at the end. The Rogers xx
£21.84
Anonymous
£31.51
Bronwen Leverett
Go Ruby! We are all so proud of you xxx
£255
Lourdes Agapito
Ruby, we've never met but your mum and I were colleagues at UCL. Rae was an extraordinary woman who inspired so many of us! We used to bump into each other in the corridor often (our offices were just 2 doors away) and we would share "mum" stories about our children. She was as passionate about you as she was about her amazing work in computer science! I miss Rae... Your cause is also close to my heart. I also lost my mum to ovarian cancer in 2022. I also wish there was earlier diagnosis, more awareness, better treatment and more research. I miss my mum. I think about her every day. She was also a trailblazing woman, like Rae. I actually think they would have got on really well if they had met each other! They both had so much energy, kindness and so much to give! Good luck with the marathon! It's an amazing experience!!! I also run and it's in my plans to run a marathon for the same cause soon. xxx
£21.84
Bonnie Robertson
Good Luck Ruby ! You will smash it!
£50
The Dowsett’s
Good luck Ruby! Such an incredible cause. We’ll be cheering you on 🏃♀️
£11.33
Anonymous
Well done, lovely Ruby. A wonderful effort for a worthy cause. Hats off to you! :)
£63.80
Bridie
❤️❤️❤️
£20
Matt Best
Good Luck! 👏
£30
Josh
Congratulations on taking on such a huge challenge Ruby, and for an excellent cause. Enjoy the atmosphere on the day, it's sensational, and get excited for that first sip of a pint afterwards ;)
£10
Amanda Morris
A truly worthy cause. I will look out for you on the TV on marathon day. I can imagine your Mum would have been very proud of you, Ruby. Xx
£150
Rob And Wend
Good luck Ruby, you’ll smash it! Such a great cause. Rob and Wendy xxx
£21.84
Justine Mooney
So proud of you Rubz!! Xxxx
£20
Hollie Dunn
Good luck! Hope you smash it!
£53.32
Andrew Brown
So sorry to hear about your mum. Good luck!!
£50
Tasha
Go Ruby! So impressed - and will be absolutely rooting for you! x
£105
Pammy
You did it 🤍 Such an incredible achievement and a beautiful tribute to your amazing mum. I know she would be so proud of you and was with you every step of the way. It was so special seeing you cross the finish line from afar with Rodney and bump, so proud 💜 Lots of love Pam, Rodney & Kev
£21.84
Alice Dh
Your training runs alone are inspirational! Good luck for the race, I've no doubt you'll ace it and your mum will be with you ✨
£21.84
Miriam Finch
Sending you all the luck Ruby.xx
£132.50
Lauren T
Congrats Ruby!! A very very worthy cause…sending you all the luck for Sunday!!
£20
Nick
Good Luck Ruby!
£30
Victoria Kay
Go Ruby. You are a star ⭐ Sending you love and good luck. From Vicky and Chris x
£28.10
Charlotte
Go girl! Super proud of you x
£21.84
Gntx
£21.84
Robyn Kotze
Absolute best of luck Ruby, you’ll smash it! xx
£30
Lucy Hook
Go Rubes! Proud of you xxx
£106
Ella, Dan, Paddy & Aoife Xxx
Go Aunty Ratty! We’re so proud of you, and Mum was so proud of you!! 👏🏻 🌸🩷 🦋
£21.84
Gareth Williams
Good luck Ruby, it is going to be an amazing day
£27.05
Rebecca Bines
So proud of you Rubes. We’ll be thinking of you and Rae tomorrow. Lots of love Bex and Ray xxx
£40
Susie Douty
Amazing go you Ruby!
£20
Georgia Gadsdon Barnes
Well done Ruby! 🏅
£20
Sammy, Sam, Darcy And Eddie Xxxx
You’re incredible, Rubes! Your beautiful mum will be there with you, spurring you on during those hard moments. Proud of you 💗
£21.84
Gabriel Brostow
£20
Piers
Best of Luck. Your mum was great.
£21.84
Anonymous
£11.33
Molly Coyle
Well done Ruby xx
£21.84
Lishan Harbird
Well done so proud of you xx
£50
Rosie
You got this. Good luck !! I am in AWE! xx
£21.84
Lewis Griffin
Colleague of your lovely mother - best of luck with the run
£32.23
Chloe Scott
Good Luck Ruby! You’ve got this 💪🏻
£53.32
C+s+g Dance
£53.32
Gina And Jim Muir
Wishing to all the luck Ruby your mum died to soon she would be so proud of you❤️
£30
Annalisa And Joe
Good luck Rubes!!
£212
Toby Hanington
Amazing cause. Well done!
£32.23
Rebecca Fairbrother
Good luck Ruby. So so sooo proud of you 👏 Smash it!!
£21.84
Heather G
I am in awe of you Ruby being able to fit all that you do into your life! You got this girl - just one foot in front of the other (many, many times...) GOOD LUCK! xx
£20
Jessica Smith
Good luck Ruby! Your mum would be so proud of you! You deserve all the chocolate digestives!!
£50
Sarah S
Your mum was an incredible human being. I wouldn't be in the role I am in today without her support and gentle encouragement. Good luck with your challenge.
£74.20
Rachel Tuckey
Odds on you win?! Good luck and enjoy!!! Amazing cause. So proud of you 🥰
£53.32
Sheena Regan
Go smash it Ruby! Your mum would be very proud x
£30
The Muirs
Fantastic feat Ruby for an incredible cause and in memory of your wonderful mum - Rae. Good on you. Love you x❤️
£21.84
Len Xx
Go Ruby! Go smash it xx
£26.45
Maureen Quinn
Ruby you are an incredible young woman and Mum would be so proud of this challenge that you are doing- you’ve got this -Go Ruby Ruby xx
£21.36
Lesley Graham
Well done Ruby I’m sure you will do amazing and your Mum would have been so proud. 😘
£20
Toby
Good luck!
£16.56
Izzy
Good Luck Ruby! I know that you will absolutely smash it! xx
£53.32
Elaine Pimentel
Remembering Rae!
£106
Steven
Amazing effort - huge respect
£21.84
Mark W
Hi Ruby. We've not met by I knew your mum from my time as a PhD student at UCL. I was a teaching assistant on one of her programming modules, and she made the teaching experience (which for me was a daunting one!) so easy and enjoyable; she helped me see the value in teaching and fall in love with it. What you are doing is amazing, and I wish you all the very best of luck!!!
£27.05
Christina Stynes
Go Ruby! So proud of you. I know your Mum is watching over you, so proud too… Loads of love Aunty Tina 😘✨🙏😘
£100
Forest Car Company Ltd
Go get um tiger 🙏🏻
£53.32
Billy Fahey
Go Ruby! So proud of you and so is your amazing Mum... love you loads... Billy xoxoxoxoxo
❤️