I am running the London Marathon 2021 to raise money for the wonderful charity, Disability Snow Sports UK. This small charity provides inclusive ski lessons and opportunities for disabled people throughout the country, allowing them to access the slopes and benefit from the increased confidence, physical fitness and mental health benefits that mountain sports can provide.  

My connection to the charity is a very personal one; my Dad, who we sadly lost last December, was physically disabled in a skiing accident in his 20s that led to him losing the use of his legs.  Despite the extra physical challenges he faced, he continually challenged himself to lead an active and adventurous lifestyle.  He never considered his disability to be a barrier and for the entirety of his life he fought against the ableist perspective that people with disabilities have a lower quality of life.  On weekends, he would drive us up to the mountains and wait in the car park while we learned to ski, with a chunky Clive Cussler and a flask of soup to keep him company. He would have loved to get back on the slopes himself, but when he was still physically fit enough to try, the options for disabled skiers were prohibitively expensive.  They still are for many families, which is why the brilliant work that DSUK does is so vital.

Raising money for a charity connected to both my father’s disability and the skiing he loved so much seems a great tribute to the old man. For the majority of his life, he couldn't use his legs, so I am going to make sure I use mine! I have wanted to run in this amazing event for many years and am thrilled to have finally been given the chance to do so, and I couldn’t think of a better, more motivating cause to get me to the finish line. I’m hugely grateful for any support you feel able to give, and I will post updates here on how you can follow my progress in the race. Thank you!