On Sunday 21st of April 2024, I will be running the London Marathon.
I have never before ran anywhere close to a marathon, so this will be a HUGE challenge!!

Many of you will know that I've suffered significantly with my physical health, and my consultant's beliefs were a big part of my journey to faith and the reason why I didn't end up with major life-altering surgery. Considering my journey, I was thrilled to be offered a place in the London Marathon 2024 by Samaritan's Purse, and I have chosen to support their World Medical Mission, which provides medical services across 30 different countries, to those who need it the most.

Their medical mission has been running since 1977. Each year hundreds of volunteer Christian physicians, dentists, and other medical personnel work in mission hospitals and clinics around the world. They also staff a biomedical department and warehouse that provides critically needed equipment and supplies to these medical facilities. They have helped save many lives, providing patient care in a resource-limited environment, relieving overwhelmed full-time hospital staff, and educating the next generation of national healthcare workers in remote areas of the world.

This is a cause close to my heart and I'd really appreciate your help supporting them!

The marathon is 26 miles, or 42 Kilometres, and I expect it'll take me approx. 4.5 hours of continual running to complete. It will take a mad amount of training and I'd really appreciate your support. Whether that's something towards my fundraising goal, prayer, joining me for  run, or cheering me on at the London Marathon!

My Story:

I fell ill when I was just turning 18 and we had no idea what was wrong, but knew it was serious and going downhill - I lost a quarter of my body weight within 2 weeks and was very weak, I could barely walk, in unbearable pain and slept most of the time. I was diagnosed with severe Colitis (and coincidentally my consultant was a family friend we knew from church!). Over the next 4 years I was still very poorly, spending a lot of time in hospital and had to set aside my education.

In 2016 I was booked into emergency surgery and told by the senior consultants that I'd end up with an ileostomy bag, so it's a miracle that I not only avoided this, but ended up in remission.

Having been in remission for 6 years now, I'm so very grateful for my health and ability to keep fit. Every time I run I take a moment to appreciate the freedom I have now. That said, I ran for the first time less than a year ago, and recognise that this is a huge challenge for me and my first ever fundraiser! 

A few years ago, I could only dream about getting fit - and now, 10 years on, 6 years into remission and 2 years since my very first run, I'm training for a marathon!!