London 2026…here we go again.

If I take myself back to March 2024 on a cold wet and frankly miserable 18 mile training run I swore to myself I would never do another marathon. Fast forward to the 21st April 2024 and after nearly 7 gruelling hours I was heading down The Mall about to receive my London medal. I knew the second I crossed that line I wanted to go again. I was met by my mum, sister, partner, army aunties and the most incredible running buddies but somebody was missing at the finish line. That somebody was my dad.

We lost dad in September 2023 after a relatively short but aggressive battle with cancer. Dad was diagnosed with a type of sarcoma in his shoulder and despite a GP who made the right things happen quickly it had already spread making it untreatable by the specialists.

Unfortunately this is too often the case with sarcoma, a group of bone and soft tissue cancers. Often mistaken for aches, pains and strains many people don’t get the timely diagnosis needed for a positive outcome.

Dad made no secret of the fact he did not like running himself, as an ex paratrooper I imagine tabbing and running with kit and in boots probably wasn’t the best experience.

Saying that he was proud of my efforts. My first half marathon, The Great North Run, saw him hobble miles around the north east while waiting for a new knee to try and see me on the course.

He was always keen to hear how training was going and the advice on injury prevention and foot care was never far away even if his blister advice was a bit more ‘old school para’ than current run club practice.

I’d already decided this year I was going to run for a charity and Sarcoma UK is the perfect fit. Raising much needed funds and awareness to help beat this rare group of cancers so hopefully fewer families have to go through what we have.

If you feel you can support me in raising money for this great cause I would really appreciate it, whether it is a donation via JustGiving, tucking into tasty treats at one of the many planned bake sales or joining us for a night of quizzing.

I’ll be posting regular training updates and no doubt a few blister ones to and am already looking forward to April 2026.

I’m supporting Sarcoma UK, a national charity that funds vital research, offers support for anyone affected by sarcoma cancer and campaigns for better treatments. Sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in the bone and soft tissue. It is difficult to diagnose and one of the hardest to treat. By supporting me, we can help change this. Your donation will help researchers find answers, keep our Support Line open, and raise awareness to improve treatment and standards of care.

Thank you for your support.