Despina, Charity Manager for The Advocacy for Neuroacanthocytosis Patients, completed the 5k run at Parallel Windsor Festival on Sunday, 7 July 2024. It was as much of a personal challenge as well as a challenge to fundraise for us.

Here are her thoughts shared with us after completing the run:

“Been there, done it, got the medal! Outrageous weather!

What a delightful experience the actual festival was! I’ve honestly never been in a place with so much uplifting and inspiring energy. The tag line ‘Start together, finish whenever’ applied to everyone there.

All the rain and stormy weather couldn’t dampen (pun intended) the absolute enthusiasm of every person involved in the challenges and any of the very many and diverse activities of the festival.

Just as the 5k race started, the heavens opened, but I didn't see anyone backing out of it. So ‘Start together’ – tick! ✅

The cheers along the way from the amazing volunteers and the encouragements to each other from those in the running challenge kept everyone going, no matter the pace. It was never about the timings, but about the resilience to cross the finish line. So ‘finish whenever’ – tick! ✅

And once the actual running was done, there was still so much to experience in the many areas of the festival! I’ll only confess to dancing to songs from Grease in a yurt with my best friend who joined me, as we took refuge from the relentless torrential rain.”

Despina and her friends are planning to return to the inspiring Parallel Windsor Festival next year and perhaps step up a notch the challenge to 10k. So much so that she’s already signed up for the super-early-bird discount for Sunday, 6 July 2025!

Despina will also be looking to form an international team! The Festival is extended virtually, so wherever you are in the world, you can be part of the NA team!