Posted 4 June 2026
We’re excited to support our fundraiser, Katya, as she takes on the Cotswold Way Ultra Challenge this month. This 100km looped route winds through some of England’s most scenic countryside, with rolling hills, rugged footpaths, and demanding trails along the way.
Taking on a challenge like this alongside the responsibilities of running a business and being a single parent is no small feat, and we’re proud to have Katya representing not just us, but all the single parents out there, battling their own challenges.
As a business owner and the single parent of a four-year-old, Katya is no stranger to the notion of feeling like you’re doing the impossible. Her daily life, like so many other single parents, is a constant juggle of raising a child, running a household, juggling bills and ensuring her business thrives whilst handling everything in between.
Behind the scenes of her professional success lies a deeply personal mission. “Somewhere between the early mornings and late nights, I’ve been fighting another battle too, trying to stay fit, to stay strong, and not to lose myself in the process,” she explains.
The journey hasn’t been easy. It has meant squeezing training runs between back-to-back meetings or late into the evening, alongside the discipline of eating well and building strength. Katya even gets her son involved in the process, turning training into a family affair. She is fuelled by a desire to settle some “unfinished business,” having reached an incredible 78km during her last attempt. She is determined to see all 100km through to the end, this time representing Gingerbread.
For Katya, this race is about much more than physical fitness. “It’s about resilience,” she says. “It’s about proving that even with limited time and endless demands, we can still challenge ourselves and grow, both physically and emotionally.”
By choosing to run for Gingerbread, Katya is helping us provide vital resources and a voice for single-parent families who navigate these same “endless demands” every single day. She wants to turn her personal struggle into a shared hope for others, showing her son and our entire community that a strong mind builds a strong body.
As Katya puts it: “The only thing that can stop us is ourselves.”
