Let me take you back to April 2025, the London Marathon had just been and I decided that I would sign up for the ballot. When the ballot result dropped into my emails a few months later I was absolutely relived that I had not been successful. I thought that would be the end of my love story with running and the London Marathon, but fast forward to January 2026 and a friend messaged me "do you fancy running Cardiff Half?" after a bit of back and forth and a few no's... I was convinced and signed up. Training started pretty much straight away, and quite quickly I began enjoying running. Not much of a fan of whilst I was running, but the feeling it gave me after was amazing. As somebody with ADHD (this is relevant later, I'm not just bragging) I am a very all or nothing person, and it appears I sway to the ALL on this side of running and a half marathon just wasn't enough for me. So I applied for multiple charities, all of which I had a connection with in one way or another, and at the start of May 2026 was offered a place to run the 2027 London Marathon for Caudwell Children.

Caudwell Children champions every kind of potential by truly listening, understanding, and delivering personalised support that helps disabled and neurodivergent children thrive with whatever they decide to do, whether that’s following their dreams, understanding their differences or making a new friend. They are there to ensure that sparks of potential aren’t dulled, but are ignited.

Growing up in a generation where neuro-spiciness was less understood and passed off as lazy or naughty was always a struggle for me. I have been lucky to always have supportive friends and family who have taken the time to understand me and help me do the best I can. Caudwell Children provide that support to many families and children, and being able to fundraise for them whilst raising awareness for disabled and neurodivergent children is a brilliant motivating factor in me completing the marathon.

So if you can spare a bit of money, to not only support Caudwell Children's charity then in return I will run 26.2 miles through the streets of London, presumably quite slowly, and make each and every penny you donate worth it.

Make sure you follow my Instagram @charliedoesrunning and TikTok @charliedoesrunning to watch my journey from 5k to marathon over the next 11 months.

Thanks in advance for everyone who donates