Megan’s mighty challenge for Nanny Pearl

17th April 2025

Memories spurring on Megan’s challenge

For many of us, holidays such as Easter and Christmas are when many of our memories with family are made, so they can be particularly poignant when you are missing a loved one.

It will be family memories spurring on one supporter as she takes on the Swansea 70.3 Ironman this summer in memory of her grandmother.

Megan Williams will be taking on the epic challenge in memory of her Nanny Pearl, who was cared for by St Luke’s before sadly, she died in December 2022.

She said: “My Nanny Pearl was the rock of our family. Losing her husband at a young age, she brought up my Mum, Auntie and Uncle alone and was a huge part of all of her grandchildren’s lives. As me and my cousins grew up, Nan would take us and the great grandchildren out for lunches together every week which created a really special bond between us all and which we still share today; now, every Christmas, we get together and raise a glass of Asti (Nan’s favourite) whilst ‘Sex Bomb’ by Tom Jones plays (also her favourite!) She loved a sing along to him or Engelbert Humperdinck and we’d have such a giggle together.”

Compassion and care when it is needed most

In the lead up to her challenge, which involves a grueling 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile cycle, and 13.1-mile run through challenging Welsh terrain, Megan will be raising vital funds for St Luke’s, allowing us to continue to care for other families like hers. However, it is her medical career that makes her drive to support St Luke’s even more significant.

Born in Plymouth, Megan moved away to study at Cardiff University seven years ago, with a growing interest in wanting to improve lives of people with cancer. After graduating, she landed what she describes as ‘her dream job’ working as a Trainee Clinical Scientist for the NHS in Wales, offering genetics testing for patients with cancer.

“St Luke’s have supported many family and friends throughout the toughest of times, providing a little compassion and care when it is needed most.  I want to be able to give a little back to show my gratitude for the support they offer to families every single day.”

Alongside her day job, Megan is also a Reserve Officer with the Royal Navy and it was her passing out that stands in her mind as a special memory with her grandmother.

“I have so many special memories with my Nanny Pearl, but one that especially stands out is her being at my Pass Out Parade as a Royal Navy Reserves Officer from BRNC Dartmouth. With a Naval family history, I could see how proud she was of me that day and that’s something I’ll forever cherish. She was a very special lady who brought light and laughter to everyone around her, and who taught me to be the determined, resilient and compassionate woman I am today.

A mammoth physical challenge

“I’ve set myself a mammoth physical challenge, but it’s also a huge mental battle not only to be able to push through on the day, but in the mighty training efforts leading up to it.

“I’ve dabbled in running from an early age and taken part in several half marathons, but a couple of years ago felt like I need a new challenge so signed up to Mount Edgecumbe sprint triathlon. Although I was a Lifeguard when I was younger, I was very much an ‘adult learner’ in the swimming world and hadn’t sat on a bike for about a decade. I somehow managed to drag myself around (very) hilly course, despite training in the flatness of Cardiff. And then I got the bug.

“Last year, my parents and I took on Blenheim Palace Weekend Warrior – I did two back-to-back sprints and whilst dragging myself around the last lap of the run, thought “well if I just did all of this again it would almost be a half ironman”. A few weeks later, I signed up to Swansea 70.3.”

You can follow Megan’s fundraising here.

Megan’s JustGiving page Do it for St Luke’s

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