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I began running as a way of dealing with mental stress some time ago but when my wife Charlotte fell seriously ill and was hospitalised with infectious encephalitis (brain inflammation) two days after we moved from London to Paris in 2019, it became the principal way that I took time to process what had happened and adjust. The distance I covered each week increased exponentially.

At the same time, I took advantage of Encephalitis International’s support to understand the real marathon we had started: for those who are lucky enough, recovery from encephalitis can take a lifetime.  Since Charlotte has come home I've experienced first hand what a difference they can make by educating, funding research and creating spaces for people to share their experiences and learn from oneanother. I've met some inspirational people and learnt that resilience and hope go hand in hand.

Worldwide, a person is diagnosed with encephalitis every minute. Caused by infection or by autoimmune diseases, encephalitis strikes children and adults alike with no respect for gender or ethnicity. It is an acutely serious condition with high mortality rates, leaving many who survive with an acquired brain injury which will affect their memory, thinking and personality for the rest of their lives.

I am running the Berlin Marathon to raise money for Encephalitis International and help people whose lives are upturned and rewritten by this poorly understood and life changing condition, whether they are recovering patients like Charlotte or their family members or friends.