A powerhouse, a soldier, an inspiration. Our member Charlie joins the 1% club.
“It was beautiful seeing him set off with such a huge smile on his face” — Founder Ionie Hughes
Welcome to Socialising Angels’ debut blog post! We are so happy you’re here. And what a way for us to start; in celebration of one of our OG members, Charlie Russell. Mr. Russell is our resident runner, pushing the boundaries to the next level with every footstep. A regular attendee of our events from the start, he is known and admired by us for his positive attitude and independence. So how did he gain this fantastic achievement? Let’s dive in.
Prioritising independence, socialising and a love for life, Charlie’s running journey began three years ago, just after he began taking medication for his recently diagnosed epilepsy. A childhood friend invited him to join her on dog walks, to confront his fears. Always one to embrace a challenge, Charlie began dog walking and building his confidence. These dog walks turned into short runs, which turned into Park Runs, which turned into community runs, which led Charlie to a love of running and a new community of support.
But less than 1% of the world population completes a half marathon. To go from community running to this is no mean feat. Charlie knew he’d need to train hard and dedicate time to building his stamina. He had two goals; raise money for Socialising Angels to fund more experiences for his friends, and complete the run. Step 1 was easy — a JustGiving page was set up and shared across our wonderful community. The second step was harder; train.
What did training entail? Charlie trained with our partners High Achievers Lab twice a week and joined their running club. On Mondays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30pm, High Achievers Lab is where you could find him. The sessions, led by Bruce and Phil, tailor fitness to the needs of young people with SEND ages 16–25. Charlie combined strength, balance and fitness training with teamwork, consistently cheered on by his community of friends.
On the day itself, the sun shone in tandem with a breeze that kept us warm and cool all at once. However, Charlie fought to overcome a perpetual challenge that too many of us are familiar with; travelling through London. Facing the mass crowding, reschedules and delays, the group abandoned TfL and called an Uber. Thirty minutes later the traffic had been defeated and Charlie arrived at Hackney Marshes, team in tow.
Charlie began his run with a smile from ear to ear. His friends and family gathered together to cheer him on. They buzzed with discussion on Charlie — how he inspires and the lessons we have learnt from him. Through all of life’s challenges, Charlie has never given up. He has always pushed through and maintained a positive outlook.
As we chatted, life imitated our conversation in real time as Charlie officially embraced the Hackney Half. Although he separated from his friend, he pushed on independently; navigating the route along with the crowds, and crossed the finish line two and a half hours later with the same smile he wore at the start line. If he was exhausted you would never have known it, true to form he gave a spirited sprint across the threshold. He travelled home valiantly on public transport (never one to be scared off from previous challenges), and was back at the gym on Monday continuing his workouts. How would Charlie like to encapsulate this achievement? “It was great.” Though a man of few words, Charlie’s facial expression speaks volumes. The same smile he held throughout the day spread eagerly across his face, pride beaming in competition with the sun.
The final stats are in; Charlie Russell ran 21.1 kilometres in 2 hours and 29 minutes, with 27,000 other runners in front of an audience of over 60,000 people. Not only this, but he raised an astounding £1,390 for Socialising Angels. This money will be spent on activities our members choose by voting. If you are with us you can vote here:
Charlie’s fantastic determination and achievement has motivated his peers to consider how they might be able to take on this challenge next year. So watch this space — inspiration is loading!
If you have got this far, thank you for staying with us. Perhaps you could share this with your loved ones. How can you embrace some of Charlie’s energy? It may not look the same for everyone, but what is your achievable goal? Leave a comment below!
At the start of 2026 we made the decision to radically commit to the community and enjoyment of our events. This meant fewer events with more heart, centering our members over company growth. And this is why — when communities of any size come together amazing things can happen. Charlie’s is one story that exemplifies this. We would like to thank him for choosing to join us, to fundraise for us, and to socialise with us. You are an incredible young man. We are grateful to have you in our community, and to witness your strength, confidence and empowerment of yourself and others. We are so proud of you.
Thank you for allowing us to share Charlie’s story! Check back again for our next post! We’ll see you then!