In November 2022 my dear friend's daughter Mabel was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. She was 9 years old. It is every parent's nightmare to receive news like this. The ensuing months, and now years, have been beyond difficult with complications arising that Mabel has valiantly and consistently battled through. The strain that a whole family is put under in circumstances like this is undeniable. The golden thread throughout it all however, has been the paediatric oncology teams working both in The Royal Marsden and St. George's Hospital. They have been relentlessly supportive, going above and beyond what could be expected to get Mabel through this. Andrea talked of consultants coming in on their day off to see her and the infinite kindnesses of the staff helping Mabel through these times.

Mabel is an incredible person. She will be undergoing treatment until January 2025, and in the face of her own challenges has set up a charity called Team Mabel which donates to the Time for A Change Charity for St. George's Hospital.

I am running for both The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and St. George's Hospital and any help you can provide to support these amazing institutions and the healthcare workers who tirelessly provide life-saving treatment, would be gratefully appreciated.

My running journey has come as somewhat of a surprise to both me and my loved ones. Indeed on New Year's Eve in 2022 I sheepishly admitted to my husband and sister that I had not gone on one run that entire year. I was ushered immediately out to at least get the one in, the pair of them trotting gamely alongside me.

In 2023 my husband James sent me the application link to the London Marathon and based on his assurances that I, "definitely wouldn't get in," I applied through the ballot. Amazingly I secured a place. In January, as a newly fledged 40-year old I started dragging my creaking knees out on the 16-week training course for complete beginners. Ideally, it advised, you would already be a regular runner before attempting this, but where's the fun in that?!

It's been an eye-opening four months and a particularly poignant time as our life in London draws to a close in August and we return to Ireland. It's a city which has been so good to our family in the 16 years I have lived here and my life has been ridiculously enriched by the wonderful people I have met. Running around it to the point of emotional and physical exhaustion for a wonderful cause seems like a fitting way to pay tribute to that time.

Thank you for reading.

https://www.team-mabel.co.uk/