From Lightmoor Village to the London Marathon: Kelly’s inspiring journey

Lightmoor Village resident Kelly Reynolds is taking on the challenge of a lifetime, running the London Marathon in 2027 to raise money for St John Ambulance. Inspired by her dad’s 30-year career as a paramedic, Kelly is combining her passion for running with a cause close to her heart.

Kelly, 39, has lived in Lightmoor Village for 13 years and is no stranger to hard work and determination. After overcoming a knee injury, returning to running and transforming her health over the past five years, she is now working towards a goal she has dreamed of achieving for years.
We caught up with Kelly to find out more about her journey, why she chose to support St John Ambulance and how the Lightmoor Village community can get involved.

A cause close to her heart
Kelly has always wanted to run the London Marathon. After previously securing a ballot place but having to withdraw because of a knee injury, she was unsuccessful in this year’s ballot. Rather than giving up on her dream, she spotted an opportunity to apply for a charity place with St John Ambulance.

The choice was an easy one. “My dad was a paramedic for 30 years, based in Donnington. Growing up, seeing the daily sacrifices my dad and his colleagues made, and hearing about some of the jobs he attended, has always been something I have been so very proud of.”

One particular incident has stayed with Kelly throughout her life. Her dad once attended a house fire where a young child was trapped inside. Arriving before the fire brigade, he bravely entered the house three times without breathing equipment in an attempt to find the child.

Although the smoke prevented him from reaching the boy, he was able to tell his partner where the child was, enabling them to bring him out to safety. Kelly’s dad later received a bravery award from the Queen.

“He never took any credit. He didn’t even tell my mum what had happened. She only found out the next day when his colleagues called to check on him. My dad just saw it as him doing his job.”

It was this dedication and bravery that inspired Kelly to choose St John Ambulance. The charity’s volunteers provide medical cover at public events, deliver lifesaving CPR and run youth development programmes, among many other services. By fundraising for the organisation, Kelly hopes to help it continue its important work.

A journey of determination
Kelly’s marathon challenge is about more than running. Over the past five years, she has worked hard to improve her health and fitness, losing an incredible seven stone along the way.
After spending a year unable to run because of her knee injury, she returned to running at the beginning of 2026. She has since started taking part in races again and is thoroughly enjoying training for London.

Her routine takes plenty of commitment. Kelly currently runs four days a week and goes to the gym three days a week for strength training, usually fitting her workouts in at around 6am before work.
“Getting my workouts done early fits in well with my work and home life balance. By the time I finish, it’s time to get ready for work and get my girls ready for school.”

She is also grateful for the encouragement she receives from her partner and family, who will be cheering her on throughout her marathon journey.

Training on the hills of Lightmoor Village

You may spot Kelly running around Lightmoor Village and the surrounding areas wearing her St John Ambulance running top. She loves the scenery around Lightmoor Village, Ironbridge and Horsehay, although she admits the local hills can make even an easy training run feel challenging!

Over the coming weeks, Kelly will begin building up her longer runs as she prepares for the big day in April 2027. Her target is to complete the marathon in under five hours, but her main aim is to enjoy the experience and take it all in.

“I’m most nervous about not being able to complete it, but I will give it my all and will not give up. I’ve only ever run a half marathon and knowing I’ve got to run that distance twice is terrifying!”

Kelly is particularly excited to be part of the first-ever London Marathon double, with a Saturday event being introduced alongside the traditional Sunday race in 2027.

With her partner and daughters there to support her, she is determined to embrace the challenge.
“I’m going to prove to myself and my girls that if I can do this, anyone can.”

Fundraising for St John Ambulance

Kelly has set herself a fundraising target of £2,000 and has already raised nearly £300. She is using a variety of creative ways to reach her goal, including selling unwanted items, organising car boot sales and holding cake sales.

She is also looking for local businesses that might be willing to donate raffle prizes. Kelly and her daughters have even been litter picking around Telford as part of their efforts to give something back to the local community. After one litter pick around Lightmoor Village’s parks, her daughter collected a whole black bag of rubbish!

There are several ways you can help Kelly on her journey:

Local businesses: If you’re a business that could donate a raffle prize, Kelly would love to hear from you. Every donation, share and word of encouragement can make a difference.

Kelly’s message to the Lightmoor Village community
For Kelly, this challenge is proof that it is never too late to aim for something you once thought was out of reach.

“If you have ever thought about doing a challenge like this, then go for it. What is stopping you? I never would have thought six years ago I would be doing anything like this. If you really want something, you can achieve it.
“Life is for living, so get out there and do hard things!”
Do you have a story to share?
At Lightmoor Village, we know there are many residents with inspiring stories, personal achievements, fundraising challenges, hobbies, talents or experiences that could encourage others in our community.
We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re taking on a personal challenge, raising money for a cause close to your heart, helping others or simply doing something you’re proud of, we’d love to help share your story.

Your experience might be just the inspiration someone else needs.
If you live in Lightmoor Village and would like to be featured in a future resident story, please get in touch with the BVT Estates & Stewardship team at [email protected].
In the meantime, we wish Kelly the very best with her training and fundraising. We’ll be cheering her on all the way to the London Marathon!eading

Make a donation: Every contribution will help Kelly reach her £2,000 target. All money raised goes to St John Ambulance.

Visit Kelly’s fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/kelly-reynolds-1?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL

Follow her progress: Search for Kelly’s Road to the London Marathon 2027 – Running for St John Ambulance on Facebook for regular training updates and details of her fundraising raffle. Entries are available for a £5 donation.

Help spread the word: If you’re unable to donate, liking and sharing Kelly’s Facebook page or fundraiser is a brilliant way to show your support.