During lockdown 1, I got into running with my friend Hannah Mansfield as it gave me some focus amid all the uncertainty and craziness of this past year. Much to my surprise, it turns out that I actually quite like running! In January this year, Hannah and I ran half a marathon around Richmond Park and I have decided to go for the big one - the full marathon!!

In 2015 my dad Stephen Morris was diagnosed with a brain tumour. After a year and a half of operations and radiotherapy, passed away in 2016 at the age of 60. In 1992, my granddad on my mum's side, Thomas Moran also died young of a brain tumour - so this illness has affected generations of my family. 

I want to run a marathon on what would have been my dad's 65th birthday, on 2nd May 2021, to do what I can to help this charity in the research, development and support they give to so many people. 

Even when he was ill, my dad loved his fitbit, running up and down the stairs in the house to up his step count. I think he would very shocked and surprised that I want to run a marathon, after showing no interest in running since finishing near the back in a cross country race in Year 7! 

Due to the lockdown, organised marathon events have been cancelled, so I have decided to do it my own way and record my marathon on the Strava app on my phone. Location of marathon running to be confirmed but you can follow my training progress through the link to the Strava app on this page, to make sure I am not cheating. 

A bit more about the charity I'm running for below. 

The Brain Tumour Charity is the world's leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally. Committed to saving and improving lives, we're moving further, faster to help every single person affected by a brain tumour.