Story
Why I’m Running the London Marathon 2026 for MORcure
On April 26th 2026, I’ll be running the London Marathon. 26.2 miles that will push me further than I ever imagined possible. I’m not a runner so it’s a huge challenge for me. In truth, this has been a couch-to-marathon journey, months in the making, and one of the toughest challenges I’ve ever taken on. I’m doing it for a cause that has become deeply personal to me: raising awareness and funds for MORcure.
I was introduced to MORcure by my friend Anna-mai. Anna-mai and her sisters set up MORcure after her daughter Amber was diagnosed with MORC2, a rare genetic condition. Amber is my daughter’s best friend, and getting to know her and seeing her world more closely has had a profound impact on me.
Amber is bright, sparky, and incredibly determined. She has so much joy, personality, and resilience, yet she faces significant physical barriers every day, challenges many of us never have to think about. Watching her navigate those obstacles with such courage has been both humbling and inspiring. The more time we’ve spent together, the more strongly I’ve felt the need to do something meaningful to help.
That’s why I have decided support MORcure in the London Marathon 2026. Training has been a long and sometimes overwhelming process, especially fitting it in around the demands of everyday life. There have been early mornings, tired legs, missed motivation, and moments where stopping would have been much easier. But it’s also been incredibly rewarding, and every step feels worth it knowing why I’m doing it. I’m running in the hope that within Amber’s lifetime, understanding of MORC2 will improve and that research, awareness, and support could lead to better care and the development of effective treatments. MORCure plays a vital role in driving that progress and supporting families who desperately need answers and hope.
As the only global organisation focusing on this disorder, MORCure also plays a critical role in advancing scientific discovery by identifying and funding research that will transform how M2RD is understood and, ultimately, how it can be treated. By identifying how MORC2 mutations disrupt normal biological processes, researchers can begin developing strategies to correct or mitigate these effects in patients.
MORCure's current research has already made some meaningful progress toward this goal. The research team, combined with direct insights provided by patients and their caregivers, have identified several previously undiagnosed cases of MORC2. Ongoing research aims to further elucidate the mechanisms that cause and drive M2RD. Through the promotion and funding of interdisciplinary and cross sector collaboration, MORCure is advancing the understanding that will inform future strategies to address M2RD.
If you’re able to donate, no matter how small, you’ll be helping Morcure continue their
essential work:
· supporting research into rare genetic conditions
· improving understanding and awareness
· giving families hope for the future
Whether you donate or not, please do look at the MORcure website. Raising
awareness of rare diseases including MORC2 is a huge step in improving our
understanding of them.
Thank you so much for reading and for supporting if you can.