At The Sandcastle Trust, we believe that leadership is not just about strategy, governance, or boardroom decisions — it’s about heart, commitment, and leading by example. Our Chair of Trustees, Sam embodies all of this and more!
This weekend, Sam crossed the finish line of the London Marathon, and in doing so, she also reaffirmed her deep and personal commitment to the mission of our charity — to support families living with rare genetic conditions.
For Sam, this wasn’t just a running event. It was a reflection of the journey she’s been on since her daughter Hollie was born 11 years ago. A journey that began with shock, isolation, and grief and has transformed into a powerful drive to create hope, connection, and joy for other families like hers.
Running a marathon is no small feat. It requires months of training — early mornings, freezing runs in the dark, aching muscles, and unwavering mental discipline. Fundraising, too, is its own marathon: rallying support, sharing your story, and asking others to walk (or run) beside you. Sam did all of this with grace, resilience, and determination — raising over £4,000, enough to fund 4 months costs for one of our specially adaptive caravans enjoyed by multiple families or 50 counselling sessions.
The parallels between Sam’s marathon training and her role as Chair are hard to miss. She’s there in the cold early days — helping us shape strategy and vision. She sticks to the schedule — supporting our team, advocating for our families, and ensuring good governance. She rallies others — lifting our voice, our cause, and our reach. And when it’s time to go the distance, she digs deep and leads from the front.
Sam didn’t just run 26.2 miles for The Sandcastle Trust. She ran for every family who’s ever felt lost in the rare condition maze. She ran for connection, for understanding, for support. And we are so proud — and so grateful — to have a Chair who brings her whole heart to this work.
Sam, your belief in our mission powers our momentum. Your leadership is our compass. And your commitment? It’s as strong and enduring as every mile you ran.
Thank you.
If you’d like to show your support, Sam’s fundraising page is still open.
