Following on from Derry running the marathon last year, I will be taking on the London Marathon 2024 in support of Nerve Tumours UK! 

This charity is very close to our hearts. My brother and close friend of Derry, Patrick Smith suffers with a very rare condition called NF2 (Neurofibromatosis type 2). 1 in 33,000 people worldwide suffer with this condition and there is very little research, support and understanding around it. Nerve Tumours UK has been a strong pillar of support for my brother and other people with similar conditions, so we feel that the support for this charity is extremely important and would like to raise awareness for their cause and the conditions they focus on.

My brother was diagnosed with NF2 when he was 7 years old but has had it since birth. For Pat, NF2 has caused tumours to grow on his lower and upper spine, as well as on his acoustic nerves in both ears. Pat has had 2 major spinal surgeries (lasting around 11 hours each) to remove some of the tumour; 1 head surgery to remove the tumour in his left ear; and so many other surgeries to help treat the symptoms of his condition.

Despite Pat’s condition, he has completed two very successful fundraisers for Nerve Tumours UK to date, raising over £13,000 for the charity over the last few years. Despite his condition, Pat has continually pushed himself beyond the limits of what he thought was possible, completing a 7-day walking challenge and a 13km triathlon, inspiring so many along the way - a breath-taking story which the BBC covered on Midlands Today and was noticed by many who nominated Pat for the National Diversity Awards in 2021.

For Pat and many others with similar conditions, Nerve Tumours UK is an extremely supportive structure, providing support and funding for specialist nurses and scientific research.

We wanted to carry on from Pat’s heroic efforts by running the London Marathon to further raise awareness and money for this special charity which gives Pat and so many others like him much needed support. We appreciate these are difficult times for the best of us, but please consider donating to this cause. Any donations will also support research into preventing and treating those with these conditions.

Thank you in advance for your help and support 😊