As you may or may not be aware, we lost an important member of our family last December. Trevor Dad fought a gruelling battle against a cruel and relentless interstitial lung disease. He was housebound for the final year of his life, and bedbound for the last six months. During that time, he required 24/7 care.

Nights were the hardest. Trevor Dad relied on oxygen support, and it needed regular attention throughout the night. There was always a quiet worry about what might happen if something went wrong while everyone was asleep.

As a family, we did everything we could to support him, but the demands became too great without professional help.

At that point, we were incredibly fortunate to receive support from a community palliative care team. It was such a relief. We felt reassured that he was receiving the right care from experienced professionals. For the first time in a long while, we were able to do small, everyday things that many of us take for granted. We could sleep at night without constant worry.

Having that support changed everything. We were supported by consistent, kind, and compassionate people who guided us through one of the most difficult periods of our lives. Most importantly, they enabled Trevor Dad to spend his final months with dignity and comfort.

I will always be grateful to the individuals and teams who were there for us. This experience has shown me just how vital palliative care is - not only for patients, but for their families too.

That’s why I’ve decided to run the Oxford Half Marathon on 11th October 2026, raising money for Sobell House Hospice Charity, who provide this kind of incredible care across the community.

Funding for services like these is always under pressure, and I would love to help ensure that other families can receive the same support we did.

If you’re able to, I’d be so grateful if you would consider making a donation. Every contribution, no matter the size, really does make a difference:

• £10 could help a nurse travel to a patient’s home

• £25 could provide essential comfort items

• £50 could support urgent or overnight care

• £100 could help fund a full day of community support

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, and for any support you’re able to give. I’ll be training hard and doing everything I can to make Trevor Dad proud.