I can’t believe I’m writing this, but since setting up this page, my Dad suffered a sudden stroke and sadly passed away in November.

He was so looking forward to watching me run, and we had so many fun ideas for how we were going to spend the weekend in Paris with my family. I can’t believe he’s not here anymore and that he won’t be there at the finish line.

Everything now is for you Dad❤️xxxx

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I'm running the Paris Marathon on April 12th, 2026, for my absolute legend of a Dad, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and Dementia 2 years ago.

My Dad was deputy head teacher alongside my Mum at our local secondary school, where he taught both PE and English Literature - a combination summing him up perfectly: energetic, thoughtful, and full of character. He had a breadth of stories like you wouldn't believe, that were like magic whether he told them in assembly or around the dining room table. The Radcliffe school wrote a beautiful tribute for my Dad when he passed away, which describes what an incredible teacher he was: https://www.facebook.com/share/17sxXXhkoy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I'm running the Paris Marathon to honour my Dad's resilience and spirit, in the hope that it will turn something so painful into something positive for my family.

France also holds a very sentimental place in our hearts, as what started as my parents' spontaneous camping trip 42 years ago became an annual pilgrimage with our extended family. Running for Dad in Paris will feel extra symbolic coming full circle.

I'm running with team Dementia UK to raise support for the amazing work of the Admiral Nurses who have been an incredible source of guidance for our family. I want all families facing the challenges of Dementia to have access to the same compassion, expertise, and support that we have. Just £25 could pay for a carer to provide one-to-one support from a Dementia specialist.

Any donations at all are massively appreciated!