She hadn’t been for a run in more than 20 years – but after a few words from her daughter, Becky Murphy is taking on the half marathon Great North Run.
Becky is the mum of Seashell’s Fundraising and Engagement Ambassador Mollie Murphy, who was formerly a student at Royal College Manchester. In April this year [2026], Mollie was discussing fundraising with a group of colleagues and asked her mum if she’d do the Great North Run.
Becky, 51, said: “I hadn’t been running in more than 20 years – I stopped when our kids Mollie and George came along.
“We were at the opening for The Ged Mason Building in April and, Mollie being Mollie, she heard about the Great North Run and wanted to do it herself. When she realised she wouldn’t be able to, she wanted me to do it – I was put on the spot.
“Mollie never asks me for much, so when she said it, of course I had to say ‘yes’.”
Mollie has cerebral palsy and as she puts it ‘can’t move her arms and legs very well’. She loves her job at Seashell and Becky feels doing the Great North Run is something Mollie wouldn’t hesitate to do.
She said: “Seashell has been the making of Mollie and I’m so proud of her for getting a job there too. It gives her confidence and a real sense of purpose.
“Mollie was made for kindness and fundraising – if she had a body that would let her, she’d be doing the run herself. She really wants to be the same as everyone else physically. So that’s my motivation to carry on and when I’m struggling with my training – I remind myself that this is for Mollie.
“She would do anything for Seashell and I’ve said all the money raised is coming from her to Seashell, not from me. It’s as if she is doing it, and she’s just doing it through me.”
After accepting the challenge from Mollie in April, Becky began training round her local area in Handforth. But an injury quickly put things on pause for a month, so she had to start again in May. The event is on Sunday, 13 September and in that short space of time Becky has gone from following the Couch to 5K app to running 10 or 11 miles per session.
She said: “If I’m facing a difficult hill or I don’t feel like doing it on a particular day, I just remind myself it’s for Mollie.
“We’ve had a boiling hot summer but I’ve managed to train every other day – I even went running on a recent holiday abroad.
“Mollie’s dad, my partner Ciaran, has also been a fantastic support and has come out with me on runs – but it’s all me on the actual day.
“I’m looking forward to the day itself. Lots of people have told me Great North Run is really hilly, but I’m trying to block that out.”
Becky has smashed her initial fundraising target and has so far raised more than £800 for Seashell. If you like to sponsor her, please visit her JustGiving Page here.
Keep a look out on our website and social media as we’ll be catching up with Becky when she completes her half marathon. Good luck Becky!
