A dedicated team of nine runners from South East Essex raised over £4,000 during the Royal Parks half marathon to support families affected by childhood cancer, demonstrating community spirit and resilience in fundraising efforts.
A group of nine dedicated runners, known as Team Gold Geese, successfully completed the Royal Parks half marathon on Sunday, raising over £4,000 to support children and young people fighting cancer in South East Essex. The team, comprising participants from Rayleigh, Billericay, Leigh, and Southend, included relatives of families who have previously benefited from the charity Gold Geese, alongside founder Katie Southgate and trustee Andy Sterry. Notably, Katie Southgate wore a yellow cape emblazoned with the names of the children the charity supports during her first half marathon, symbolising the personal connection and commitment behind the fundraising effort.
Gold Geese is a local charity that provides tailored practical and emotional assistance to families affected by childhood cancer in South East Essex. Their support ranges widely—from funding mental health therapies and providing food shop vouchers to organising respite trips and practical transport assistance to hospital appointments. The charity’s aim is to alleviate some of the burdens faced by families during their difficult journeys, offering bespoke help based on each family's unique needs. Importantly, Gold Geese operates entirely on donations without any government funding, underscoring the critical role of community support and fundraising efforts like those of Team Gold Geese.
The Royal Parks half marathon, an iconic annual event in central London, runs through four of the capital’s most famous parks: Hyde Park, The Green Park, St. James’s Park, and Kensington Gardens. The 2025 marathon took place on 12 October and attracted a record number of participants, with ballot entries increasing by 35% from the previous year. This event routinely raises significant funds for a wide range of UK charities—as much as £70 million over its history—highlighting its importance as a platform for charitable giving. In addition to supporting individual charities like Gold Geese, the event also benefits The Royal Parks charity, which focuses on maintaining these green spaces, educating the public about nature, and conserving historic monuments.
Such community-driven efforts signal the ongoing importance of cross-sector support in addressing the challenges faced by families impacted by childhood cancer. Runners like those in Team Gold Geese not only contribute financially but raise awareness and foster a sense of solidarity. The success of this team’s fundraising highlights how combined endurance and compassion can make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable young people and their families.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative appears to be original, with no evidence of prior publication. The event took place on 12 October 2025, and the report was published shortly thereafter, indicating timely reporting. The inclusion of specific details, such as the yellow cape worn by Katie Southgate, suggests original content. However, the report relies on a press release from Gold Geese, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative does not appear to be recycled or republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. No similar content was found published more than 7 days earlier. The report includes updated data but does not recycle older material.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quotes from Katie Southgate and Andy Sterry are unique to this report, with no identical matches found online. This suggests potentially original or exclusive content. No variations in quote wording were noted.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from InYourArea.co.uk, a local news platform. While it provides timely and relevant coverage, its reputation and editorial standards are less established compared to major news organisations. The report references Gold Geese's official website, lending credibility to the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The event details align with the Royal Parks Half Marathon 2025, which took place on 12 October 2025. The fundraising amount of over £4,000 is plausible for a group of nine runners. The inclusion of specific details, such as the yellow cape worn by Katie Southgate, adds authenticity. The narrative does not lack supporting detail from other reputable outlets, and the language and tone are consistent with regional reporting. No excessive or off-topic details unrelated to the claim were noted. The tone is appropriately dramatic for a human interest story, and the structure is typical for such reports.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be original and timely, with no evidence of recycled content or significant discrepancies. The quotes are unique, and the event details are plausible and consistent with known facts. However, the source's reliability is moderate due to the platform's lesser-established reputation. Overall, the report is credible, but the medium confidence rating reflects the need for caution due to the source's profile.
