Hi my name is Debbie Johnson, I’m 48 years old and I live in Retford, Nottinghamshire with my 17 year old son Thomas.

Back in August 2019 I received a telephone call from the National Autistic Society to say that out of the 1300 applicants and with only 127 places available I had been accepted for a place in the London Marathon 2020 as my story was such an inspiration. Unfortunately in 2020 I had to withdraw due to an ankle injury and my position was postponed, then we saw the world hit by covid. Fast forward 2 years to 2022 and I’m so ready to do this in the year of 2023.

I’m very honoured and proud that I’ve got this opportunity to give something back to a charity that means so much to me. The support, help and guidance they give to so many autistic people and their families and myself included, health professionals, hospitals, schools and so much more is amazing. Without charities like these autistic people would be……well it’s not even worth thinking about. Their mission is to transform lives and to change attitudes to help create a society that works for autistic people and if I can do my part in anyway then I will, no matter how big or small.

So, this year I’m not just going to be completing the London Marathon, I’m going to be completing The London Classics and describing this in their own words.

This is the country’s greatest mass participation challenge which requires participants to complete the London Marathon, the Ford RideLondon-Essex 100 and the two-mile Swim event at Swim Serpentine. These events are the three toughest challenges that London Marathon Events has to offer and tackling just one requires courage and determination. 

Conquer all three and you’ve conquered London.