Why I’m Running for Cancer Research Wales: Clay’s Story
Following a serious injury, Clay Gibbons decided to help his mental and physical health by training for the Cardiff Half Marathon in support of Cancer Research Wales
Read below and support him on his journey
Support Clay’s fundraising journey here
Clay's fundraising page
Tell us about the injury you sustained
In September 2024 I suffered a horrific spinal injury during rugby that almost required emergency surgery, but thankfully I never needed it.
But the doctors told me I’d never play rugby again, and the moment I heard that I spiralled mentally. I couldn’t train, go to the gym, or run for the rest of the year because of the pain. The stress took its toll, and the weight piled on. By December 2024, I was 27 and a half stone.
What happened next?
On New Year’s Eve 2024 I decided to make a resolution to prove everyone wrong and turn my life around. At that moment, I thought - why feel sorry for myself? There are millions of people out there fighting far greater challenges than me.
How did you start your running journey?
On January 1st, I started getting up and walking, since I still couldn’t run, and cleaned up my diet. Gradually, I started losing weight, gaining confidence, and by February I was running again - just 1km at first.
That’s when I decided to sign up for the Cardiff Half Marathon, to prove myself right and show those who doubted me what I could do.
Why is running for Cancer Research Wales so important to you?
I wanted to do it for a charity supporting people suffering worse than me, so I chose Cancer Research Wales, having lost family members to this terrible disease in recent years.
How do you feel about your progress?
Eight months on, I’ve lost 8 and a half stone! I’m the fittest I’ve ever been, having raced two 10K races - Barry Island and Chepstow 10k. I want to share my story to motivate others with an ‘anything is possible’ attitude - and to raise awareness for an amazing charity, who I will be doing much more work for in the future.