I am running the TCS London Marathon on Sunday 27 April 2025 to raise funds for Age UK in memory of my late grandfather, Dr Hywel Williams, who passed away on 19 February 2025.

My grandpa was a wonderful man that loved me dearly. Growing up, he would take me, my siblings, and cousins out on his boat to go lobster potting or fishing around the Newport coastline. Without exception, those daily trips were the highlight of my visits to Pembrokeshire, of which there were many growing up. We didn't always need to talk, just being in his company, watching him thrive in his domain instilled me with a sense of calm, admiration and happiness that I may always struggle to fully articulate. On reflection, the ocean was definitely where he felt most at home and I will always cherish those moments shared with him.

During the last few months of his life, my Grandpa was often bed-bound and was in almost constant pain. All the while, his mind remained sharp and not once did anybody hear him complaining about his situation. Instead, he was cracking jokes and talking with such positivity, as if he was about to spring out of bed at any given moment!

I have chosen to raise funds for Age UK after seeing the first-hand impact that the duty of care imposed upon loved ones has on entire families. Whether it was my grandma being the only person in the house to provide care, or my mum and uncles taking it in turns to spend days at a time in West Wales assisting with care, the arrangement of timetables for round-the-clock external care, registering a power of attorney or managing the large financial impact - it is a lot for even the largest, most close-knit families to manage. As a family, we are incredibly grateful for the care provided by Teri, Sabina, Pippa, Emma, Jo, Alison, Claire, and Jane during this difficult time.

Unfortunately, there are many elderly people in the UK that do not have the benefit of a large, loving family available to offer support. As a result, these people are left with the immense responsibility of caring for an elderly loved one without any guidance or support. In other cases, some elderly people live in relative isolation with no friends or family to talk to, sometimes going days without interacting with another human being.

It costs as little as £10 to connect an elderly person, or their family, to an Age UK agent and start the relationship so that they can receive the support they need. It also costs just £8 to connect an elderly person to the Age UK Friendship Service, a brilliant service that focuses on providing comfort in the form of friendship through phone calls and in-person meet-ups. The range of support that they can offer is incredibly vast, and more information about the great work they do can be found on their website.

With your support, my aim is to raise as much money as possible for this great cause, and if we can raise enough money to provide even one family some respite in the form of a helping hand, or if we can help an elderly person escape from isolation and once again feel included and valued through the Friendship Service, then I will have succeeded. 

The last time I saw my grandpa, I told him about how excited and nervous I was to be running the marathon, but he was adamant that I would take it all in my stride. He always supported me and made me believe that I could do whatever I put my mind towards. We joked about having a race on the beach the next time I saw him. We will never get to have that race, but I know that he will be with me every step of the way as I take on this biggest challenge of my life so far.

Please donate to my page so Age UK can continue to be there and provide crucial support and services - today, tomorrow, and in the future.

I love you Grandpa, I will miss you always and I hope I can make you proud.