Congratulations to our Liverpool Half Marathon runners!
1 April 2026
Together they raised over £1,300 to support Mersey Care mental health and community services
Celebrating Our Incredible Liverpool Half Marathon Team!
On a blustery Sunday in March, a fantastic group of runners came together to take on one of Liverpool’s most iconic road races — the Liverpool Half Marathon, all to raise vital funds for Mersey Cares.
Among the thousands taking part were six dedicated supporters: Mersey Care colleagues Katie Pownell and Robert Kelly, along with members of the public Kevin Lloyd, John Cheal, Harvey Boot, and Thanat Kornsuphkit, who completed his race remotely from Bangkok after being unable to travel due to conflict in the Middle East.
Together they raised over £1,300 to support our work, and we are immensely grateful for their support and dedication.
Determination in challenging weather
The 33rd annual race brought thousands of spectators onto the streets, cheering on 12,544 participants battling rain and strong winds. An amazing 12,169 runners crossed the finish line, including all of our Mersey Cares team.
Team Stories and Experiences
Katie Pownell
The event marked Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Katie Pownell's return to road racing after a break following the pandemic. After a steady return to training, she was set to run the Liverpool Half in 2024, but illness kept her from the start line.
Since moving to Mossley Hill Hospital, Katie’s found even more inspiration through the early morning running club formed within the Crisis Resolution & Home Treatment team (CRHT). “It’s been brilliant to run with members of the team,” she said, sharing that some of them are are also taking part in the 2026 event. “It’s an added bonus to be racing with them too!”
“Working for Mersey Care, I’m aware of the great work the charity does for staff and patients through funding creative projects not usually in the scope of NHS funding; it’s these things that really help teams make an extra difference for patients and for one other.”
Robert Kelly
Mersey Care case manager, Robert, experienced his first ever half marathon after signing up on a whim during last year's race day. With no prior running experience, he has transformed himself over the last 12 months, training regularly with his running clubs and working towards the 13 mile distance.
“The Liverpool Half Marathon was absolutely electric — the whole city was buzzing," he said after completing the race. "It was incredible to take in how beautiful Liverpool is while running. My aim was to finish under two hours, so I’m thrilled with my time of 1:42!”
He’s already set his sights on next year — where he hopes to smash his own personal best.
Kevin Lloyd began running around two years ago in his mid 40s to improve his cardiovascular health and keep himself as fit and as healthy as possible. In the run up to the event, he has been making good use of the parks south Liverpool has to offer.
“I’ve found now running is so good for my mental wellbeing and really does help my mind to relax, whilst my body takes over,” he said ahead of the event.
“I wanted to support Mersey Cares as someone who has lived my entire life in Liverpool, I know how important the services the trust provides for our community."
Improving on his race time last year, Kevin shared that it was inspiring to see so many people arriving and setting off from the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
“I had family at various points to cheer me on, but there were so many people out to support all the runners. I beat my time from last year, so I was chuffed with that. The rain was a challenge but as you can see in the photo, I was smiling at the finish line where my wife and youngest daughter (who is in the cadets) was there to meet me.”
“So many of my family and colleagues donated to Mersey Cares so I was over the moon to be able to enjoy the day and support the charity. It’s so important to have activities outside of work that really charge your wellbeing and bring you joy.”
John Cheal
John Cheal took on the Liverpool Half Marathon this year after being encouraged by a running friend who lives locally. John works for IT infrastructure service provider Kyndryl, which partners with local healthcare organisations, including Mersey Care. With Kyndryl opening its new AI Lab in the Liver Building last year, he felt that fundraising for Mersey Cares was the perfect way to show his support.
John described the event as “brilliant”, despite him battling the elements towards the end of his run.
“It was a brilliant event. It was a shame about the miserable weather when I was finishing, but for 99% of my run it was dry and a good temperature for running. Incredible support all the way around and a lovely route through parts of the city I've not seen before.”
Support from across the globe
A special mention must go to Thanat Kornsuphkit (pictured, right), who refused to let international travel disruption prevent him from taking part. With support from race organisers, he completed the event remotely in Thailand:
“I’m delighted I could still support Mersey Cares. This event means so much to me, especially because Liverpool is a city I truly admire," he said. "Thank you for the incredible work your team continues to do.”
Thank you to every runner and supporter
Whether running for personal goals, to give back for care received or to support patients and service users they care for, every member of our 2026 Liverpool Half Marathon team has helped make a real difference. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who donated — your generosity helps us continue supporting patients, service users, and communities across Mersey Care.
Feeling inspired? We have a full programme of fundraising events which are a whole lot of fun, are great for physical health and wellbeing - plus you can help us really make a difference to the lives of service users, patients and our hardworking NHS staff.
