Hanya Crooks

This summer, Team Plan member and engineer Hanya joined over 13,000 participants to run, cycle and swim as part of the AJ Bell London Triathlon.

The world's largest triathlon, Hanya competed with athletes from Team GB to conquer the Olympic distance. She has also raised an incredible £1,400 for our girls rights projects around the world.

We think that Hanya is amazing. Find out why she is determined to give more girls the opportunities that she has had by fundraising for Plan International UK.

Standing up for girls

As a woman working in engineering, Hanya has “always felt strongly about girls and women having equal opportunities to go and seek out what they want to achieve, experience and discover in life.”

A few years ago, after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Hanya spent time in Tanzania and saw the challenges girls face to gain an education. 

I have been so very lucky to have grown up with all the opportunities I have had. Seeing girls not having the basic tools to learn with has always stuck with me.

“We need more strong women out there and we can only do that if we take the time to provide a safe environment, equipment and education that so many girls miss out on just because they are a girl.”

Taking on the Olympic Distance

Hanya says that the London Triathlon was “quite simply the biggest challenge of my life to date. I absolutely loved it”

“I thought it was all over once I started that swim and got in such a panic, but once I gave myself a little pep talk and remembered who I was doing this for and why, I became instantly grounded and powered on.”

On competing with professional athletes, she says it was: "exhilarating, I laughed my way round and just took the time to soak in all the atmosphere and support.”

The next challenge

Although she says that it is "hard to think about anything that would top the euphoric feeling I had on completing the London Triathlon", Hanya is already thinking about her next challenge.

“I’ve always opted for things that are so very much outside my limits, things I couldn’t possibly imagine doing."

Although she doesn't think of herself as a runner, Hanya would like to now take on the London Marathon "just to up the challenge a little.”

For anyone thinking of taking on a challenge, Hanya's advice is just “do it, no matter how big or how small.”

“Don’t be scared. If I can, then you sure can too.”