So you’re probably thinking why does this almost 23 year old girl want to drag herself round 26.2 miles and do the London Marathon? Well I will tell you why, this is my story…

Back in 2014, when I was 13 years old I started to feel incredibly unwell. I had a strange pain in my left leg and an awful ache in my neck. I went to see the doctor and was told it was probably just growing pains and there was nothing to worry about.

A week went by and I was feeling worse so my mum and I took a trip to the GP out of hours service (it was a Sunday). The GP sent me straight to A&E in Kettering and by the end of the day I was in intensive care in Nottingham Queens Medical Centre. 

After many tests I was diagnosed with Lupus Nephritis (Kidneys). My kidneys were failing, I needed to have regular dialysis and I spent 6 weeks in hospital. The medication that I had to take made me lose my hair, which as a 13 year old girl you can imagine wasn’t easy to process. It also made me incredibly weak and even walking from one end of the room to the other was a challenge. Forward on 9 years and my condition is now under control with my daily and weekly medication, I am able to live a normal life. 

In 2015 my Dad ran the London Marathon for Lupus UK, he had never run before but he did it. Since that time I have always wanted to do it too and raise much needed funds for Lupus UK. 2024 will be the 10 year anniversary of when I first got diagnosed, so what better time to take on the challenge of running the London Marathon. Dad is able to run this with me and be my support network as this is certainly not going to be easy. 

We are excited, nervous… but most importantly we would like to raise as much money as we possibly can for a charity that is so personal to us. A donation of any kind will be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks for your support 

Gemma & Steve (Dad)