As we continue to celebrate our 50th anniversary we spoke to Katherine Emerson who is taking on the London Marathon, in support of Farms for City Children, who meant so much to her family. In this piece, she reflects on her connection to us, the memory of her grandparents and why this year’s challenge feels particularly meaningful.
A charity woven into family life
For Katherine, Farms for City Children has never felt like just another charity.
Her grandfather, known in the family as Papa, knew our founders Michael and Clare Morpurgo. Indeed, she recalls being told he was a friendly counsel to Michael as Nethercott House was first opened to children and served as a trustee for over 20 years.
Growing up, Katherine heard about the impact the charity had on young people and the transformative power of a week on the farm.
“It was always something that felt very present in our family,” she says. “I grew up hearing about the difference Farms for City Children makes and how much it meant to my grandfather.”
That deep family connection is a big part of why she has chosen to run once again to raise funds for us.
Running in memory
Katherine first ran a marathon for Farms for City Children in October 2021, taking part in a remote event during the Covid period.
At the time, she was grieving the loss of her grandfather. “It was a very difficult and strange time to lose somebody,” she says. “He was one of the people I was closest to in my life. I remember thinking, how can I bring about some good through this and honour his memory in a really positive way?”
Supporting Farms for City Children felt like the natural answer. “I knew how much it meant to him and I knew the positive impact it had. So, when I saw there was the option to do a remote marathon, I applied straight away and was over the moon when I got a place.”
A family of runners
Running, too, is part of the family story.
“My grandfather was a runner, and we have a few runners in the family,” Katherine says. “There’s something really special about doing this in a way that feels connected to him too.”
When another opportunity to run for the charity came up, it arrived through family conversations once again. Katherine’s dad had been in touch with the team and although there were no places available for the original year being discussed, there was a place for 2026.
Finding the right moment
By then, Katherine had recently had a baby and was preparing to return to work.
“I was a bit worried that I would have too much on my plate,” she says. “I had a young child, I was going back to work, and marathon training is a major commitment.”
But then she heard this year would be the charity’s 50th anniversary.
“And I just thought, I’ve got to do it.”
That milestone made the challenge feel even more significant. Taking on a marathon in the charity’s anniversary year felt like a chance not only to support Farms for City Children, but also to honour a family legacy tied so closely to its story.
Training through grief, with purpose
Katherine’s son is now two and life is full: work, parenting, training and all the unpredictability that comes with a busy family life.
For Katherine, running has become more than training for a finish line. It has become a way of staying connected.
“I think it’s a really healing and wonderful thing to be doing,” she says. “To be doing something positive, and something that makes me feel connected to them.”
Even the hardest runs carry that feeling.
“When you don’t quite feel up to it, it gives you that extra reason to put your trainers on and get out of the door,” she says. “I think of Papa a lot when I run and it feels very special to continue his legacy in some way by supporting such an amazing charity.”
Carrying their memory forward
At the heart of Katherine’s story is a simple but powerful idea: that even in loss, it is possible to create something hopeful.
By running for Farms for City Children, she is not only raising funds for children and young people to experience the farms for themselves. She is also carrying forward the values her grandparents lived by: generosity, community and belief in the life-changing power of these experiences.
For Katherine, that is what makes this challenge so special.
“It feels like a way of honouring them, but also of doing something genuinely positive,” she says. “That means a lot.”
Looking ahead to race day
As race day approaches, Katherine will be running with more than a fundraising target in mind. She will be carrying memories, family history and a deep sense of purpose with every mile.
And in this 50th anniversary year, her challenge feels like a fitting tribute: to her grandparents, to the runners in her family and to a charity that has shaped so many lives.
If you’d like to support Farms for City Children and are considering your own run or challenge, find out more on our Runs and challenges page. We have a range of places available at some great events coming up in 2026!
