A Bradford hospital manager ran in the Manchester half marathon on Sunday (October 12, 2025) to raise money for a charity.
Leah Wood, Deputy Service Manager for Outpatients and Patient Support Services Clinical Service Unit at Bradford Teaching Hospitals donned her running shoes to raise money for Staying Put, the domestic abuse charity which is a cause very close to her heart.
Leah explained: “I ran Manchester Half Marathon, which is a 13.1-mile race, for a close family member who I am so proud of, given what she has overcome in the last few years.
“Staying Put does amazing work as a charity for a domestic and sexual abuse across Bradford and West Yorkshire.
“They support those affected by abuse, dismantling barriers in seeking support and acting as advocates for change. They work with women, men and children who are victims, survivors and families with complex needs to support their journey towards freedom and independence, and with perpetrators in challenging their behaviour and actions.”
Leah started her own running journey last year after a “long battle throughout my life with my weight and mental health.”
She explained: “Over the last two years, I have lost 25kg and I am now in the best mindset and shape I’ve ever been. I have gone from hardly being able to run 5k last year to pushing myself and training for my first ever half marathon.”
She described her “supportive” boyfriend, Peter who also ran the marathon with her, as her “absolute rock through training.”
Peter and Leah after completing the Manchester Half Marathon
Leah continued: “I also have an amazing mum who has run London marathons in the past and who has always been my biggest inspiration and cheerleader.
“Anyone that knows me – especially colleagues who I’ve worked with in my years at the Trust know I was a bit of a party animal in my 20s. Now I’m in my 30s, I’ve swapped night outs and getting in at 5am to now being asleep for 8pm so I am up and running at 5am … how times have changed, but this is a charity which is so close to my heart that I want to do anything I can to help raise funds.”
Staying Put is the lead provider of domestic abuse and sexual violence services working primarily across the Bradford area and more recently in West Yorkshire. The charity supports women, men and children who are survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Yasmin Khan, Chief Executive Officer of Staying Put, thanked Leah for her fundraising.
She said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Leah for taking on this amazing challenge. Her courage, determination, and compassion shine through in everything she’s done. Every step she took helps us bring hope, safety, and freedom to survivors and families rebuilding their lives across Bradford and West Yorkshire.”
You can still sponsor Leah by clicking on https://gofund.me/6739db281
For more information or to contact Staying Put, please go to: https://stayingput.org.uk/