Zoe and Ethel-Grace bring splash of colour to Thanet in memory of much-loved dad and grandad

Get ready to run, walk or dance your way through a rainbow of colour at this year’s Thanet 5k Colour Run – and meet one inspiring local lady who’s taking part for a cause close to her heart.

Zoe McAdam will be joining the colourful fun on Sunday 5 October 2025 at Palm Bay Green, Palm Bay Avenue, Cliftonville, Margate. But she’s not doing it alone – she’ll be joined by her joyful two-year-old daughter Ethel-Grace, as they honour the memory of Zoe’s dad, Eugene, and raise funds for Pilgrims Hospices, who cared for him in 2018.
“Dad was only 51 when he died. From his diagnosis on May 8 to his death on June 29, it was just seven weeks. Everything happened so quickly,” Zoe shares.
“Dad spent some time in hospital but his wish was to come home to us all. He spent a couple of weeks following this at Pilgrims Hospices to help stabilise and manage his pain and ensure he was as comfortable as possible. He’d been so low before arriving at Pilgrims, but the team brought back his smile – and that little twinkle in his eye.
“After a couple of weeks, he came home again to be with us all. That time together meant everything.”
Zoe admits that after her dad’s passing, she didn’t fully understand how to grieve.
“I rushed back to work, thinking I just had to get on with things. But months later, it hit me hard. No one really tells you what to do with that kind of sadness.”
Now, with her young daughter by her side, Zoe is celebrating her dad’s memory in the most joyful, colourful way possible.
“We talk to Ethel-Grace about her grandad all the time. She knows exactly why we’re doing the Colour Run – she says, ‘We’re raising money for the people who helped Grandad.’ She can’t wait to be covered in colour and look like a rainbow!”
Zoe jokes that her fitness prep has mostly involved chasing after her toddler and looking after a one-year-old at home.
“I might not have trained, but I think I’ll be just about ready! It’s going to be such a special day for us.”
Ethel-Grace was lovingly named after her family’s grandparents and great-grandparents – a living tribute to the legacy of love that runs through generations.
Together, this vibrant mother-daughter duo are making memories, celebrating life, and raising funds so that other families can experience the compassion and support Pilgrims offers.
Support Zoe and Ethel-Grace’s colourful journey by sponsoring their JustGiving page.
You can be part of the Colour Run, too!
Whether you walk, jog or sprint – every step brings care and comfort to families across east Kent.
Together, we can make a difference – one splash of colour at a time!