Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s mum runs Nottingham half marathon in her daughter’s memory

Grace O’Malley Kumar’s mum ran the Nottingham half marathon in her daughter’s memory in order to raise money for Grace’s foundation.

Dr Sinead O’Malley, Grace’s mum, ran the race with 30 other students supporting the Grace O’Malley-Kumar Foundation. Her parents created the foundation to continue her legacy following the Nottingham attack on 13th June, 2023.

Grace, a student at the University of Nottingham, was killed by Valdo Calocane. He also took the lives of first year student Barnaby Webber and 65-year-old Ian Coates.

Dr O’Malley told Nottinghamshire Live that she cried listening to one of Grace’s playlists during the race.

“It’s been really lovely to see so many of Grace’s friends from her home school and university and her hockey friends that have turned out to support the foundation.

“It’s been bitter-sweet, I cried along the way. I bumped into her friends, her hockey girls, and that was wonderful.

“I listened to her playlist and the tunes she loved whilst on the streets she loved.

“I’m proud of myself, I’ve done it for her, for her brother, for Sanjoy, her family and friends and the foundation”.

Grace’s dad, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, supported students running the half marathon and provided refreshments throughout the race, reported Nottingham Post.

He also spoke about Grace’s passion for sport and inclusion. The 19-year-old was an England hockey player and was also part of the University of Nottingham’s hockey team.

He talked about the aim of the foundation: “Grace stood for inclusion, that was one of the big things about her, inclusion.

“She absolutely hated children being excluded. She also donated a lot of her time at hockey camps and she would be really pleased that we are bringing sport to the foundation.

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“Everything that we are doing to support in Grace’s name is going to be for wellness, for children, and for inclusion. Inclusion was her real passion.

“She was an England hockey player, she was a county cricket player, she was a real teammate. There are so many anecdotal stories about her helping people at university. We are here to support those who are running for the foundation.”

Katie Curtis, one of the 30 students from the University of Nottingham running for the foundation, was Grace’s friend and hockey captain.

She said: “It’s really nice just to be able to be here with everybody like this and everyone who knew Grace”.

The runners supporting the foundation stayed together during the event and crossed the finish line in two big groups.

Featured image via YouTube

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