In April 2022 my sister, Caroline, suffered a serious spinal cord injury in a horse riding accident which left her paralysed. Less than two years later she passed away via assisted suicide as living with paralysis proved to be a life she didn't want for herself. A cure for paralysis perhaps could have changed that which is why I am now putting on my running shoes for this year's London Marathon to raise vital funds for Spinal Research.

Since Caroline's passing, I have helped raise just over £365,000 in her memory via two ultra endurance challenges called Cycle4Caroline and Pedal3Peaks and I now hope to push this total higher still. Conventional wisdom would suggest that the marathon is THE ultimate endurance test but it's a relative sprint by comparison to the two challenges that have gone before. However, that is not to say that it's any easier as both Cycle4Caroline and Pedal3Peaks where simply a case of mind over matter and getting to the finish line. This marathon challenge will be be about pushing myself to the limit and running the fastest time possible.

This will be my first (and possibly only - I still consider myself a cyclist who is doing some running!) marathon but I have already been training hard since August with approx 700kms under my belt so far and plenty more still to go! The objective is to finish in under 3hrs. It's an ambitious target but I want to push the limits and to do so you must flirt with failure.

If you are able to support please do so as spinal research is progressing at pace and any funds have the potential to make a monumental difference to so many lives.

With your help, we can #CureParalysis.

Thank you.

Tom