I am running the London Marathon in April 2026 to raise money for Spinal Research — a charity that means more to me than I can ever fully explain.

In 2017, I had a discectomy that saved my mobility, and, if I’m honest, probably saved me. I’d gone from an active life to barely being able to walk, eat, or even go to the toilet independently. The pain clouded everything. I was losing my dignity, my freedom, and my joy.

But spinal surgery gave me it all back.

I was told I’d probably never run again. So naturally… I did. And I haven’t really stopped since. I’ve run 10Ks, half marathons, 100-mile challenges, and five Hyrox competitions — and this year I’ll be running 1,000km in 12 months (I’m already 75% complete!) and THEN, THE BIGGIE- I’ll be running the London Marathon as my biggest challenge to date.

I’m doing this because I was lucky. I was diagnosed in time. I had access to research-backed surgery. Not everyone does. Every day, 12 people in the UK are paralysed. Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity funding medical research to develop treatments for paralysis - and that work has never been more urgent.

So I’m running because I can. And because I want to help make sure others get that chance too.

There are an estimated 105,000 people in the UK with a Spinal Cord Injury. Living with an SCI often means a lifetime of health and care costs, as well as the threat of secondary healthcare complications.

Spinal Research is the UK's leading medical charity focused on the repair and restoration of the spinal cord, and we exist to beat paralysis.

Spinal Research do not receive governmental funding; all projects are funded by donations.

With your help, we can #CureParalysis #teamspinal

Please support me if you can - every donation, big or small, helps fund life-changing research. And I’ll keep you posted every sweaty, determined, ridiculous step of the way.

Thank you so much.

Avina x