We are the GNR – Laura Bottomley

For 44 years, the Great North Run has united people from all walks of life. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things, every runner has their own story, every stride fuelled by purpose for a person they love or have lost.

For Laura Bottomley, 29, from Malton, North Yorkshire, every mile is for her sister Emma, who passed away in 2019 after facing ovarian cancer from the age of 21. She embraced life and even completed the Great North Run herself in 2018, just one year before she died at the age of 26.

“Em never let her diagnosis define her. I promised her I would live life to the fullest, just as she always did,” Laura says.

Inspired by her sister’s strength, Laura took up running in 2020 and has been lacing up her shoes ever since, keeping Emma’s memory alive with every finish line crossed.

“Emma adored running and we are forever so incredibly proud of her. I would have never started running if it wasn’t for her and I am so lucky to call her my sister – she is truly the greatest person I will ever know.”

“Running has become my connection to her,” Laura says. “And nothing makes me prouder than knowing I do this for her.”

In 2025, Laura will run for Target Ovarian Cancer, the charity both she and Emma deeply believed in. Through her efforts, Laura hopes to raise awareness of a disease that can affect women of all ages, regardless of lifestyle, and help fund research, improve diagnosis, and offer vital support for affected families.

With four runs a week and a growing training plan that includes everything from interval sessions to long runs, Laura is more determined than ever. Rain or shine, she runs—carried by the strength and memory of Emma, and the love of her supportive family and friends.

When she started, Laura couldn’t imagine running even 1 kilometre. Now, five years later, she runs with purpose, passion, and the memory of the person who made it all possible.

“Running has never come naturally to me,” Laura shares. “But keeping Emma at the forefront of it all has been my strength through every single mile.”

The Great North Run gives Laura a platform to share Emma’s story, to be part of something Emma loved, and to amplify the call for early diagnosis and better care.

“There’s currently no national screening for ovarian cancer in the UK,” she explains. “Being able to run in Emma’s name and support Target Ovarian’s vital work means everything.”

To those considering the Great North Run for the first time, Laura’s advice is simple but powerful:

“Don’t worry about pace. Remember why you started—that will carry you through. And when your legs can’t run anymore, run with your heart.”

On September 7th, Laura will not just be running a race—she’ll be honouring a promise, and keeping her sister’s legacy alive.

Everyone is a story. And together, we are the Great North Run.

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