April 2027, I’ll be running the London Marathon with Ronald McDonald House Charities. It will be my fourth major, but second marathon with this organization, after previously running the Chicago Marathon for the same cause.

For me, Ronald McDonald House is much more than a charity I chose to support. It is a part of my family’s story.

When I was seven years old, my little brother was born with one lung and was immediately transferred to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where he spent the first year of his life. My family is from New Jersey, and with everything happening, we couldn’t afford to stay in a hotel in Philadelphia while trying to remain close to my brother.

Then we found Ronald McDonald House.

They gave my family a place to stay so we could be close to my brother during one of the most difficult periods of our lives. But they provided much more than a place to sleep. They gave us access to museums and activities throughout Philadelphia, allowing my family to experience moments of normalcy while navigating an incredibly challenging time.

At seven years old, I was learning how to navigate life with a medically complex younger brother. Ronald McDonald House allowed my family to stay close to him while also giving me the opportunity to still experience pieces of childhood.

Today, Ronald McDonald House Charities UK continues to provide families with a free “home away from home” when their children are receiving treatment in hospital. Their Houses offer much more than accommodation, providing family activities, peer support, respite, and other services that allow families to stay close to their children while reducing some of the emotional and financial strain of having a child in hospital. They now support more than 8,000 families every year.

Twenty-one years after my family received that support, I have the opportunity to give back.

Running a marathon is a personal challenge, but running for Ronald McDonald House makes every mile more meaningful. I hope that the money I raise can help another family stay together, stay close to their child, and experience moments of normalcy during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

My family was once on the receiving end of that support. Now, 21 years later, I’m proud to be on the other side of it.

I’m running London for my brother, for my family, and for the families who need Ronald McDonald House today.

Thank you for supporting me and helping me give back to an organization that gave my family so much.