Every month, we share some highlights of what’s been happening in and around KBA.
This month, we kicked off our 25th anniversary celebrations with a sun-filled brunch. And find out what happened when Ciara and Matt teamed up to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon.
We enjoyed a wonderful sunny brunch with Alexander & Co Chartered Accountants
We kicked off our 25th birthday celebrations with our friends at Alexander & Co Chartered Accountants, who are celebrating an incredible 50 successful years in business. 🍾
The sun was shining, conversation flowed, and many of our valued clients and connections were there to help make a perfect start to what promises to be a very special year.
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us and we’re looking forward to seeing many more of you throughout the year as we continue to celebrate.
Ciara Fitzgerald-Nolan and Matt Marsh ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon
On Sunday 12 April, Ciara and Matt ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon – a fantastic race through the heart of London.
They trained together and put in the miles to raise money and awareness for two important causes.
Before the run, Ciara and Matt stayed still long enough to tell us all about their training and what motivated them to take on the challenge…
What prompted your decision and how long have you been training for it?
Ciara: I’ve done a few fitness challenges before, including parkruns and even two Hyrox events. A half-marathon seemed like a good step up – and I’ve managed to rope Matt into doing it with me!
Matt: Ciara was the driving force, but I’m running for a tremendous cause.
How much did you adapt your usual training schedule to get race-ready?
Ciara: I’ve always been into my fitness and the gym, but not the biggest runner (ironic, I know) so I’ve been doing regular runs, trying to increase my distance over time.
Matt: I did more running and spent less time lifting weights. I’m also quite active in sports and play football and golf every week, so that helps keep my cardio fitness at a relatively decent level.
What part of the training have you found most challenging?
Ciara: A lot of my weekends have consisted of at least a run, a long walk, or a gym session, as well as my usual evening gym sessions and classes. Surprisingly, I’ve enjoyed running more than I thought I would! I haven’t, however, enjoyed the training runs in the rain when I’ve been up north!
Matt: Getting up and going and running when the weather isn’t great. As Ciara says – running when it’s raining is pretty miserable.
How are you feeling about the run?
Ciara: So excited! A bit apprehensive as it’s completely new, but I can’t wait.
Matt: Nervous but excited! I cannot wait to get going!
Can you tell us about the charities you’re supporting?
Ciara: I’m raising funds for Parkinson’s UK. Unfortunately, we lost my Great Nanny Fitz in 2023 after a long fight with Parkinson’s. She was the strongest and most determined woman I know. So, I’ll be thinking of her when the run gets tough. If any of our readers would like to support me and help improve the lives of those living with Parkinson’s, my JustGiving page is open for donations, no matter how big or small.
Matt: I chose to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK because it’s a cause that genuinely matters. Prostate cancer remains one of the most common cancers affecting men and is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, yet awareness and early detection are still not where they should be.
By supporting this charity, I want to play a small part in changing that – helping to raise awareness, encourage more men to get checked, and contribute towards vital research and support services.
If sharing my journey encourages even a few people to take action or start a conversation, then it’s worth it.
To donate, here’s a link to my JustGiving page – funds will help Prostate Cancer UK continue their important work in improving outcomes for men both in the UK and globally.
Ciara’s post-race report
Running alongside more than 20,000 other runners, Ciara and Matt had a great race and didn’t let the weather break their stride.
Here’s Ciara’s post-race report…
Come race day, we were both so excited, and neither of us felt particularly nervous about what we were letting ourselves in for.
The race started at 10.30 am, and the weather was absolutely beautiful – the sun was shining and we had clear blue skies. Then, around half-way through, it went very grey and windy, and we got absolutely soaked!
It was actually quite a nice cool-down – and it wasn’t long before the sun was back.
The atmosphere throughout was amazing. A lot of other runners were also running for charity and there were cheer stations from the different charities along the way which was lovely, and a great reminder of why we were doing it!
This was the longest run either of us had done, so we had absolutely no idea of what to expect. However, we’d set a target of under 3 hours (with no idea how realistic it was) and we actually finished in 2 hours and 55 minutes.
We’re extremely proud and thrilled to have completed it in such a good time. The crowd and other runners cheering us on absolutely made a difference and really pushed us.
I’ve caught the running bug and am thinking about making a last-minute entry to take part in the AJ Bell 10k in Manchester at the end of May. Poor Matt may only just be learning this now – but I’m pretty sure he’ll be up for it! After that, I’ll be on the lookout for our next marathon.