I will be running my first marathon to support Bwalya, my former colleague in Zambia. He recently had his leg amputated and is now in a wheelchair, jobless and struggling to support his family.

Bwalya used to be a goalkeeper and a volunteer 'peer educator' coach at the charity Play it Forward in Zambia, empowering other young people with the knowledge and skills needed to live safe and healthy lives. He's always been dedicated, passionate and committed to the work he does.

After his older brother tragically passed away in 2019, he moved away to Lusaka to look after his family and signed up to join the Zambian army. In his fitness training he accidentally stepped on a sharp piece of wood, and although it was mostly removed, splinters of wood remained in his foot which then became severely infected. After multiple medical consultations and weeks of being unable to walk, the infection became gangrenous and the decision was made to amputate his leg as the infection was spreading to the rest of his body.

Bwalya needs a prosthetic leg that would enable him to walk. Being anywhere in a wheelchair is difficult, being in a wheelchair in Zambia is especially challenging.

The artificial leg costs £500 and any money I raise on top of this will go to Play it Forward to support the children and young people in communities where Bwalya used to coach.

Thank you in advance for all your donations. However large or small, these will enable people like Bwalya to take a step further in fulfilling their goals and dreams, wherever they are.

For more information on the work Play it Forward does in Zambia, please visit: www.play-itforward.org