Every marathon starts with a decision. A decision to commit. A decision to train. So, here I am!

I had never run until 2017, and with the help of C25K and my local parkrun I started doing regular 5k runs. For eight years I slowly plodded around various 5k & 10k courses, convinced that I could never run further than that, but in 2025 I completed my first half-marathon. In fact, I did two! The half-marathon training taught me a lot about discipline and mindset, and it made me realise that anything is possible….so, on April 12th I will be running my first marathon!

Training four times a week throughout the winter is tough - most runs are in the cold, dark and wet - but knowing I am raising money for a charity close to my heart keeps me going. East Sussex Wildlife Rescue Ambulance Service (WRAS) provides a front-line rescue service for wildlife casualties who, unlike their domesticated cousins, do not have owners to help look after them. In 2025 they dealt with almost 7000 casualties, and this number increases year upon year. I started volunteering for WRAS back in 2016 and I now work as a front-line rescuer, as well as being a member of their specialist deer team. I see first-hand what a difference this charity makes, and the number of lives they save each year. I am just one of more than two-hundred volunteers that help to make this happen.

All money raised through my marathon will go towards buying much-needed equipment for our rescue team and deer team: a full set of new safety helmets for our deer team, new nets and poles for our rescue team, portable lighting to assist us with night-time rescues…the list is long. Every pound raised will make a HUGE difference to this charity, so from the bottom of my heart – THANK YOU.