Mrs Feingold takes on marathon challenge for charity

RIPON Grammar School Deputy head of sixth form Karyn Feingold is preparing to take on a marathon challenge alongside a close friend in support of two charities close to their hearts.

Mrs Feingold will run the 44km Minster to Minster route from Ripon Cathedral to York Minster on July 25 as part of challenge called ‘Stu’s Marathon before 70’.

The idea was born last August after Mrs Feingold and fellow Ripon Runners completed the club’s annual Minster to Minster run.

“After completing the Minster to Minster, my friend Stuart Martin told me he had always wanted to run a marathon and had promised himself he would do one before turning 70,” said Mrs Feingold.

“I immediately told him I would help him make that happen.”

Only afterwards did she ask when his 70th birthday was.

“His answer: August 2026.”

Since then, the pair have trained consistently through dark winter mornings, pushing themselves to stay committed even when conditions were tough. On May 17, they took on the Chester Half Marathon as part of their preparations for the summer challenge.

With no suitable official marathon available before Stuart’s milestone birthday on August 8, they decided to create their own event by revisiting the demanding 44km route between Ripon and York.

It means that Mrs Feingold, who is committed to running the Minster to Minster run with Ripon Runners later in the month, will be taking on two marathons in five weeks.

Alongside the physical challenge, both runners are using the opportunity to raise awareness and funds for causes that are deeply personal to them. Stuart is supporting Ripon Community House, while Mrs Feingold is fundraising for the Jes Foord Foundation, a South African charity supporting survivors of rape and sexual assault.

Mrs Feingold said her connection to the foundation stems from a devastating event in 2008, when childhood friend Jes Foord was the victim of a brutal gang rape while walking dogs with her father in South Africa.

“From unimaginable trauma, Jes has gone on to build the Jes Foord Foundation, a non-profit organisation that empowers survivors, educates communities, and raises awareness around rape and sexual assault,” she said.

“Her courage has created hope for so many others.”

The foundation runs educational programmes for children and young people and operates The Handbag Project, which delivers around 400 care packages every month to survivors following sexual assault, with many going to children.

As she prepares for her third marathon challenge, Mrs Feingold, is encouraging supporters to donate, share information about the charity, or take part in awareness activities themselves.

“Every kilometre matters. Every conversation matters. Every donation matters,” she said. “Thank you for supporting this journey to make a difference.”

Visit Mrs Feingold's JustGiving page here