Cicilia goes above and beyond for prostate cancer charity

The virtual ‘Run The Month’ challenge set a target of running 26.2 miles throughout January and Cicilia, 44, was inspired after a relative was affected by the disease.

A runner for less than six months after lacing up her trainers for the first time in August, Cicilia - originally from Indonesia - decided to go above and beyond by setting a target of running 100 miles throughout January.

Braving the chilly conditions, she quickly beat that target, eventually clocking up 152 miles.

Cicilia also doubled her initial fundraising target of £100, raising £210 in total.  

To add an exciting extra element to the challenge, Cicilia was inspired by one of her fellow runners, Carl Smith, via the 2,000-strong Facebook group to take on a running route which would spell out a letter making up phrases relating to the cause.

Between them, team members created ‘Men We Are With You’, ‘Prostate Cancer UK’ and ‘Run The Month’, creating the letters by using fitness and running apps on their mobile phones.

Cicilia opted to spell out the letters W, Y and U in her hometown although she found the process tricky.

She said: “I’m still pretty new to the town, but the one thing I discovered was there are hardly any straight roads. But it did allow me the chance to explore buy constantly changing my route.”

What’s more, the thriving social media community has since established friendships for life, all bonded by experiences of prostate cancer, with the army of runners sharing their successes, their hugely personal stories and spurring each other on during some darker moments.

Cicilia said: “Through ‘Run the Month,’ I wanted to raise awareness of prostate cancer, and money for Prostate Cancer UK, because I enjoy running, and after signing up I then found out the husband of my mother-in-law’s sister had the disease. Thankfully, the doctors caught it in time.

“The Facebook group has also been amazing. It has such a good community with everybody supporting each other, whatever they achieve.

• Visit runthemonthme.prostatecanceruk.org/fundraising/cicilia-derbyshire-january-run-challenge to find out more and make a donation.