My wife, Stella caught Covid in 2020. It was Christmas Day 2020 when she left us to go to hospital. After being in an induced coma, on an ECMO machine, she spent 5 months in intensive care. She was away from me, our 2 children and nearly did not come home at all. 

Stella is a fighter though! She was not going to let Covid get to her, and despite many complications, she eventually came home. The restrictions were to her mobility, being wheelchair bound, pains in the body, requiring oxygen 24/7, and little muscle. Her lung capacity then was only  28%. 

2 years later, she is walking (albeit with help) and although still requires oxygen 24/7, she is able to do a lot more. In November 2021 she was diagnosed with a life-threatening disability called, Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. We had never heard of this illness before.. she is now receiving the right course of treatment and living each day with purpose!!!! 

Dedicated to Stella and to all those with this disease, I am running the London Marathon to raise awareness and the much-needed funds to support people and their loved ones. Hopefully one day there will be a cure. 

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is rare, serious and misunderstood. It has a huge impact on people’s lives, and the PHA UK is dedicated to reducing that burden through support, advice, information and advocacy. They raise awareness and fund research to provide better treatments, with the hope of one day finding a cure for this devastating disease. The PHA UK receives no government funding, so every penny donated plays a vital role in helping them support people to live better lives with PH.