Ryston Runner Anna Kahn taking on Chelmsford Marathon as she raises funds to aid friend Ben Shepherd’s cancer battle

It will be an emotional first marathon for a runner as she raises funds for her former workout partner who is losing his cancer battle.

Anna Kahn, a member of Ryston Runners, is making her marathon debut in Chelmsford this Sunday in aid of her friend, Ben Shepherd, who has stage four cancer.

The pair first met a couple of years ago when their youngest children started school together – Anna has a six-year-old and three-year-old twins, while Ben has a kid aged seven and a three-year-old.

When they first met, Ben, who lives in Wereham, needed someone to run with him as he was undergoing chemotherapy and various other treatments.

Sadly, the pair stopped at the end of May after completing five miles at Drymere and have not run together since, as his condition quickly deteriorated.

Ben is now having private palliative chemotherapy at his home. Anna says this has left him unable to walk, which comes with a cost to his family.

Anna has therefore decided to put her 13 years of running experience to use and take part in her first marathon this weekend to support Ben and his wife Trixie by raising much-needed funds.

The 35-year-old, who lives in Oxborough, said: “I set up a GoFundMe to try and raise some money for them to help with whatever they need at this stage.”

The money raised will be going towards the chemotherapy medical bill, as the family has exhausted all NHS options.

“I really got into running in the last year and a half when I started running with Ben. I do a lot of cross-country and 10Ks,” Anna said.

“We have been running buddies for the last 18 months. We have shared the most beautiful runs through every season - through heavy rain, hoar frosts, and glorious sunshine, as well as through much treatment and many, many rounds of chemotherapy for Ben.

“He has taught me so much about the art of running and helped me to significant PBs and placements, and mileage.

“It is thanks to Ben that I signed up to run my first marathon.”

So far, Anna has raised just over £7,400 of her £8,000 target.

“It would mean everything to raise whatever funds we can to help Ben and Trixie, and the girls in any way they need,” she added.

“He was in the RAF and was then an airline pilot after that. He has worked so hard all of his life.”

On Trixie and the kids, she added: “They are just the most wonderful, beautiful family, and they just highlight how beautiful life is, even in the most awful circumstances.”

Anna is feeling ready to take on the marathon after running 520 miles over the last three months.

She said: “I feel like, fortunately, training has gone well. Now I have just got to try and not do too much for the next few days.

“I have never done a marathon before. I have done HYROX before, but have never run more than 20 miles. I have done that several times, just never gone those last six miles.”

Anna will be posting updates on her social media page @fit_with_mum for anyone who wants to stay up to date with her progress.