Hello! And welcome to my JustGiving page. I am running the London Marathon to raise money for the Cameron Bespolka Trust, a charity very close to my heart and to the heart of one of my dearest friends. I feel incredibly proud to be supporting a cause that does such meaningful work in memory of Cameron.

The backstory of this challenge:

On marathon day in 2025, I was out for dinner in London. The whole city was full of excitement and achievement with runners everywhere sporting their well-deserved medals. Swept up in the atmosphere, I joked about signing up for the 2026 marathon, and after a few more drinks, I’d actually done it!

Considering there are only about 15,000 balloted places per year and more than a million applicants, I was aware there was a very slim chance of getting selected. Still, i kept my fingers crossed and thought that if by some miracle I did get in, it would be an experience of a lifetime and an amazing challenge to work towards. A few months later, the email arrived telling I had been selected, I was so thrilled, grateful but also slightly terrified as this mammoth challenge was becoming a reality. Up until this point I have never been a runner. The furthest I had ever run was 5k, so this really is going to be a huge mental and physical challenge. However, I am genuinely SO excited to take it on and see what my body can achieve with some determination and an amazing cause to inspire me through the training.

Once I knew I was running, I had the choice of whether to support a charity. That decision was obvious for me, I didn’t have to even think twice. I knew I wanted to run for The Cameron Bespolka trust - a charity set up by my dear friend, Sienna’s, family in memory of her brother Cameron.

The Cameron Bespolka Trust was created to honour Cameron’s love for wildlife and the outdoors. It inspires young people to spend more time in nature, to appreciate wildlife and to build a connection with the natural world.

Any donation, however small, would mean so much and help support the incredible work they do.

I also want to give a special thank you to Corinne, Cameron’s mum and a founder of the trust. She has been the kindest and most inspiring mentor throughout my running journey so far. Having run sixteen marathons herself, it’s safe to say I’m in very good hands! I feel completely blessed to have met her, and it is an honour to run on behalf of a charity that carries so much love and purpose.

Thank you so much for visiting my page. Your support means everything, and I cannot wait to take on this challenge.

Thank you and much love, Emily-Rose