Yikes. It's happening.

I'll be running the 2026 London Marathon to raise funds for DiabetesUK.

With the chances of getting in through ballot a 1 in a million shot, and just missing out on a Good For Age spot by three hours and sixteen minutes, a charity spot was always going to be my best chance.

But a charity spot had to be relatable. I had to be able to stitch a story throughout the journey. It was always going to be DiabetesUK.

Carter was diagnosed with type1 diabetes in the middle of lockdown at 5 years old we missed al the signs. They were hard to spot in a growing boy.

I'll never forget getting in from our daily 5K walk and Carter crying for two hours straight. A bit dramatic, I thought. Turn out he was red lining. I dread to think what might have happened if we had been allowed to do 10K.

Luckily, in a sense, Carter's grannie is also type1 diabetic and once she gave him the once over, recommended we get him down the hospital and get him checked out. He didn't come home for a week. A week in the hospital wrapping the nurses around his little finger. Sandwiched between one morning and one evening facetime with me, crying his yes out that I wasn't there. Same tears for me as soon as we ended every call. As a step-parent, I wasn't allowed to be there during this period. Immediate family only.

Fast-forward 5 years and Carter is thriving. Big and strong. Funny and cheeky. He can still have his cake and eat it. But he has to count every carb, and input that data into an app on his phone that teels him how much insulin he needs. Then he has to administer the inulin by injection. Every time he eats. That's a lot for anyone. It's a lot more for a child.

He'll go onto the pump soon, which will remove the need for so many injections. But he'll still have to count every carb. He'll still have sensor on his arm. A pump on his stomach or leg.

So when I'm zipping around London relying on my wearables - my smartwatch and my HR strap, Carter will be following me around relying on his wearables - his sensor and his pump, to allow him to lead a normal life just like the rest of us. But we don't have to think about it. Diabetics do. Every minute of every day.

So, if you've read this far, and can spare a few quid, please consider donating it to DiabetesUK so they can continue to support the warriors that work hard in the shadows day and night, counting calories with a smile on their face.

And I'll see you on a start-line, somewhere soon!