I am not the best runner but I know that my reason “why” will be enough to carry me through the training and each of the 26.2 miles. I would be so incredibly grateful if you would consider donating, all donations would mean the world to me and my family!

During a family holiday to Cornwall in September 2024, 3 days into the holiday, whilst enjoying a beautiful day on Firstral Beach, my Dad suffered from a cardiac arrest.

We had been in and out of the sea, playing with my parent’s dog and enjoying a picnic on the beach - we have been to Cornwall countless times and these are the memories we hold fondly of our holidays shared together. After exiting the sea and whilst on the beach with my Mum and my Sister’s Boyfriend, my Dad became unconscious and stopped breathing. It was a nerve wrecking experience, but the quick actions of the RNLI Lifeguards and their confidence to be able to perform their life saving work under such pressure meant that my family could feel we were in safe hands.

It was only after the incident that we realised quite how incredible the lifeguards really were that day. My Dad had no signs of damage to his heart, which Doctors told us was very rare, and he has subsequently, following his surgery, been able to make a full recovery - we feel very fortunate and beyond grateful to the RNLI Lifeguards in Newquay. My family had very little knowledge of cardiac arrests, CPR and defibrillators, but now that we know more, we continue to share our knowledge with those we meet. I am hopeful that this opportunity to take part in the London Marathon will also raise further awareness.

To put the events that day into context: “The chances of surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest without a defibrillator are unfortunately very low, with fewer than 1 in 10 people surviving. Each minute that passes without both cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, the chance of survival decreases by approximately 10%.”

I would love to be able to give back to the people who saved my Dad’s life, and continue to save lives every single day, whether on the beach or out at sea - the work of all of those within the RNLI is vital. It is very inspiring that the brave men and women of the RNLI commit to rescuing and saving lives on a daily basis, even though much of their work is high risk - the water can be a very unforgiving place!

Just like my family, you never know when you might need their help, so please do consider donating whatever you can.

Thank you!

To read more about my Dad’s story, find the full article on the RNLI website here:

https://rnli.org/magazine/magazine-featured-list/2025/march/their-speed-saved-my-life

Too many people are still drowning. More than ever we need the RNLI's help. As a charity, the RNLI depends on our donations so it can go on saving lives and keeping us and our loved ones safe. RNLI lifesavers are our lifeline. They are the lifeboat crews who provide 24-hour search and rescue right around the UK and Ireland. The lifeguards keeping watch on 240 of the busiest beaches in the UK and Channel Islands. And the RNLI safety teams and educators working tirelessly to stop people getting into trouble in the first place. Thank you.