I am taking part in the London Marathon 2026 with Team Whizz Kidz!

I lost Ellie, my niece, on 17 November 2013, aged just 16, due to Cystic Fibrosis.

In her memory I will be running the London Marathon 2026, alongside my brother Nick.

Having never run a marathon before this will be a personal challenge for me, but also, I am running to raise funds for a brilliant charity – Whizz Kidz – who provide wheelchairs and mobility aids for young people.

Ellie was due to have a Whizz Kidz wheelchair to help her but died before she was able to have one. It would have made such a difference to her – being so independent and would have been made to suit her needs and her personality - in her favourite vibrant colours!

At the start of 2025 Whizz Kidz had to close their waiting list for young people applying for a wheelchair, due to escalating demand (due to more children being rejected for NHS wheelchair services) and financial pressures – (the average cost of a specialist wheelchair is now around £4800). There are over 1000 children on the waiting list, with an average wait of 18 months.

Therefore, when I am running the streets of Norfolk in preparation, and running in London on Sunday April 26 2026, I hope to be able to raise lots of money towards my target of £2100 to help young people, like Ellie, who would benefit so hugely from being able to have a custom made wheelchair, to suit their personality, and interests, and to ensure they do not miss out on their freedom, and independence.