On 23rd April, I will be taking on the 26.2 mile course at the London Marathon. With my furthest run ever being 10 miles, this will be a new challenge for me. When I stood at Tower Bridge in 2016 watching my husband complete this event, I never dreamt that 7 years later it would be my turn.

I am privileged to have received a ballot place, however I would love to use this opportunity to raise money and awareness for Endometriosis UK. 

Endometriosis UK helped 50,000 women last year to tackle this condition which 1.5 million women are living with in the UK. In 2016, after years of symptoms, I was diagnosed with stage 4 deep-infiltrating endometriosis. Months before our wedding, I was told that it was a condition that I would never live without and warned that the main complication associated with the condition is infertility. 

Against the odds, I now have two beautiful daughters and feel very blessed. However, living  with endometriosis has meant living with bouts of unbearable pain. In 2020, I had surgery to remove parts of the endometriosis, though the largest part remains as this would involve removal or resection of organs. 

Despite these challenges, many women’s lives are impacted even more severely by endometriosis. Completing the 26.2 miles will be the biggest achievement by itself, but it would be made even better by helping to raise awareness for those in need of support from this charity.