Ellie and her family
In the lead up to race day, we’ll be sharing stories from runners taking part in LLHM 2026.
Each one has their own reason for running and we’re proud to highlight the journeys that make this event so special.
“Tommy’s supported us during both Myla’s and Tilly’s premature births, and again through our loss. I want other families going through similar heartbreak to know they’re not alone.” - Ellie Wardhaugh
Ellie Wardhaugh, a mum of three and first-time half-marathon runner and a woman whose journey through pregnancy, loss and premature birth has inspired her to give back to the charity that supported her through some of the most difficult moments of her life.
Pregnancy was always something Ellie imagined would be filled with excitement and joy but for her, each journey has been marked by worry, anxiety and heartbreak.
In August 2021, everything changed when Myla arrived suddenly at just 31 weeks. Ellie and her husband were thrown into the world of NICU. Their tiny daughter needed a ventilator and a chest drain to help her breathe. “Watching her fight so hard was heartbreaking,” Ellie recalls. “NICU became our new normal alarms, tubes, waiting, and hoping.”
In January 2024, Ellie discovered she was pregnant with twins. Seeing two heartbeats was a moment of pure happiness, but just weeks later, in February, they received the devastating news that one twin’s heartbeat had stopped. The pregnancy became a balance of deep grief and deep gratitude as they prepared to welcome one surviving baby while carrying the loss of the other.
Then, in June 2025, Ellie found herself living a nightmare she knew too well. Her third daughter, Tilly, was also born at 31 weeks. Though she wasn’t as medically vulnerable as Myla had been, the emotional toll was heavier. “This time, we were juggling two children at home while spending every moment we could with Tilly in hospital. The guilt… the exhaustion… it’s overwhelming.”
People often told her to “live life as normal,” but, as Ellie says, “How can anything feel normal when one of your babies isn’t home where they belong?”
Throughout these journeys, Tommy’s has been a constant source of support, emotionally, practically and mentally. “Their guidance and resources have been invaluable. I honestly don’t know how we would be coping without them.”
And that’s why Ellie has decided to run her first ever half marathon, despite never being a runner to raise money for the charity that helped her through the darkest and most defining chapters of her life. She has currently raised £135 and hopes to reach £350.
“I’m not a runner,I never have been, and I probably won’t be again after this! But I’ve been training through local 5k and 10k runs and doing longer runs on my own. This is my chance to give back to the charity that has been there for us through everything.”
Support Ellie with her fundraising and donate here
