A new local running group is preparing to take on this year’s Plymouth Half Marathon on Sunday 17 May in support of Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), including their local children’s hospice, Little Harbour.
‘Slow as Fook’ running club, based in St Austell, was set up in 2025 by Ross Camps to create a welcoming space for those new to running offering encouragement, community, and support for every ability.
Ross said:
The group may only have laced up their trainers for the first time within the last eight months, but they’ve already proven that heart, humour, and determination count for far more than speed. What began as a small group of beginners encouraging each other through those early, breathless miles has grown into a community built on resilience, teamwork, and a shared belief that anyone can achieve something extraordinary with the right people beside them.
Inspired by the group’s ethos, CHSW Event Fundraiser Kiley Pearce introduced them to the charity places available for the Plymouth Half Marathon. More than 20 members immediately stepped forward to take on what will be their biggest challenge yet, having already raised over £3,000 for Little Harbour.
Ross added: “For runners who were complete novices less than a year ago, this is a massive milestone—and they’re doing it for a cause that truly matters. Every mile they run will be in support of Children’s Hospice South West, helping to provide vital care, comfort, and support to children with life limiting conditions and their families.
Our members may call themselves ‘slow,’ but the pace has never been the point. Their journey is about courage, community, and showing that progress—no matter how steady—can make a real difference. With every step, they’re proving that slow as fook can still go far. We may be slow — but we’re doing it for an amazing cause.
Little Harbour, situated in St Austell, costs around £4 million a year to run, and cares for 110 babies, children and young people and their families across Cornwall and Plymouth who have a life-limiting condition and are unlikely to reach adulthood.
There is still time to sponsor those taking part in Plymouth Half by clicking here or visiting www.chsw.org.uk/donate.
To find out more about Slow as Fook Running Club, visit their Facebook page.