The Revd Stephanie Keates, Priest in Charge at St Aidan Billy Mill and St Hilda Marden with Preston Grange, will take on the Great North 10k in Newcastle, in July.
As part of her training schedule, Stephanie built-in a series of other runs. It started during Advent, when she ran an accumulative 40k in aid of St Aidan’s Billy Mill. She followed this up in February with 50k in aid of St Hilda’s North Shields.
In May, Stephanie, who is also a Fire Service Chaplain, will run a combined total of 40k in aid of the Fire Fighters Charity, which supports serving and retired firefighters with physical, mental and social wellbeing.
Stephanie, who is originally from Witney in Oxfordshire and grew up in North Somerset, hopes she will be in peak fitness by the time she embarks on the Great North 10k in July, in support of Newcastle Diocese.
“I enjoy running,” said Stephanie. “It’s a good way to exercise and to get out exploring the parishes and God’s creation around where I live. It helps me in my life and faith, which has very definitely felt like a long journey, not least because it started geographically ‘down south’.”
Stephanie got back into running in 2020 when running with an old school friend. They started the Couch to 5k programme and she successfully completed it last autumn. In 2025, she intended to run in aid of Refuge, a charity that supports women and children 
experiencing domestic violence, but ended up postponing it on medical grounds after suffering from severe toothache. Instead, she ran during Lent 2026 for the same charity.
A conversation with Bishop Helen-Ann, a fellow running enthusiast, was just what Stephanie needed to keep on track. It also inspired her latest challenge.
She explained: “I signed up for the Great North 10k and have added the other runs into my schedule to build up my stamina and distance.
“I also wanted to set a good example. During Lent, I was suggesting to my congregations that our Lenten disciplines aren't just for that season but to help us in our journey of faith throughout the year.
“I like the idea of supporting different causes. It gives people a choice when they donate in terms of which cause is closest to their heart. I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed so far, even the smallest amount makes a difference.”
To make a donation visit: https://givealittle.co/c/stephaniesrunning