It’s ironic that I was probably the fittest I’d ever been when I first noticed the symptoms of my lung condition. I was climbing the stairs to the train platform on my way to work, but I was completely out of breath with my hands on my knee's. I’d run a half marathon earlier that year – I knew this wasn’t right.

It took an incredibly long time to get a diagnosis, despite how debilitating my breathing problems became. My doctor sent me for tests to rule out asthma, but then I had to go private to get a CT scan. It took 18 months after I first noticed symptoms to diagnose interstitial lung disease with diffuse systemic sclerosis, which is an incurable autoimmune condition.

The news was a massive shock. I worried about how I could carry on living a life that I loved, and if my wife and I could start a family. There’s nothing worse than the unknown – having a speedier diagnosis would have taken away much of my worry.

Having to give up sports had a massive impact on me. I felt isolated, as sport was the focus of my social life. After a 6 month course of chemotherapy I was put onto steroids and immunosuppressants stabilised my lung function and recently I’ve been able to return to the gym. I’ve got a personal trainer who understands my condition and I use an oxygen machine when I exercise.

My condition isn’t common, and it can be hard to know where to turn for support. Lung disease is a hidden disability – I look perfectly well until I struggle to breathe. People don’t understand the reality of lung conditions until it happens to a loved one.

Losing control over your future is hard, but I now have a place in the London Marathon this year thanks to the British Lung Foundation. I have always been a keen runner and to run the London Marathon has always been on my bucket list, so its now or never! I am working with the oxygen team to help me get through it. I won’t let lung disease beat me and I hope to inspire and motivate anyone and everyone not to give up. This is not about me but the bigger picture!