I feel incredibly fortunate to have been given a place in the 2026 London Marathon through Glaucoma UK. This is a cause that's deeply personal to me as I’m running for both my Dad and one of my closest friends - both of whom live with glaucoma daily.

Back in 1997, my Dad, then 55, was waiting to meet me for lunch when he spotted a pop-up eye clinic offering cataract checks. With a family history of glaucoma (his Mother), he decided on a whim to go and get tested. That split-second decision changed everything as the clinic found raised eye pressure (an early warning sign) and referred him immediately to an optician. Without that test, his glaucoma might have gone undiagnosed until it was too late.

Thanks to that timely intervention, Dad began meeting with a specialist to lower the pressure and slow the disease’s progression down. For the past 28 years, administering daily eye drops has become a routine and a small price to protect his sight.

A few months back, at 83, Dad underwent cataract surgery combined with a ground breaking new procedure — part of a small clinical trial — to implant the world’s smallest known medical device for glaucoma. This device helps restore the eye’s natural drainage and significantly reduces pressure. The first procedure was such a success that his medical team operated on his second eye in early May.

The early results? Remarkable. His eye pressure dropped from 15 to 9, and he’s already been able to stop one of his daily eye drops.

Jeff, one of my best friends, has also battled glaucoma for years. He has endured multiple operations and even faced the terrifying possibility of losing his sight, but thankfully, he hasn’t. His experience is a constant reminder of how serious and life-changing this disease can be.

Because glaucoma can be hereditary, I now get my eyes checked every year. I know first-hand how vital early detection and ongoing treatment is. Without that pop-up screening all those years ago, my Dad’s outcome could have been so different.

That’s why I’m running for Glaucoma UK — to raise awareness and vital funds so that more people can access checks, treatment, support, and research that save sight every day.

I’ll be running for my Dad, for my close friend Jeff and for everyone whose vision can still be protected with early intervention.

Every donation, big or small, will help Glaucoma UK continue their life-changing work. Please support me if you can. Together, we can help stop sight loss.