On Sunday 26th April, I will be running the London Marathon in memory of my Dad, Paul Gallagher, who we very sadly lost in October 2021.

My Dad was a huge part of our family and is missed every single day. He had the most infectious laugh, an amazing smile, and a way of lighting up every room he walked into. Every mile I run and training session I complete is for him.

My Dad lived with Type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease where the body mistakenly destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to high blood sugar because insulin, which moves sugar into cells for energy, isn't made. Around 9.5 million people worldwide live with Type 1 diabetes, yet research into the long-term complications and wider education around the condition remains limited.

After my Dad fell ill during lockdown, the lack of awareness, understanding and support surrounding Type 1 diabetes became heartbreakingly clear to my family and I. That experience has motivated me to raise money for this charity so more can be done to educate, support and protect diabetics and their families.

I only received my marathon place on 21st January, so the next few months of training are going to be incredibly tough. I’m not a natural runner and I don’t have as much time to prepare as I would like, but anyone who knew my Dad will remember a moto he lived by: what he lacked in ability, he made up for with enthusiasm. That’s exactly how I’ll be approaching this challenge.

I’ll be pushing myself harder than ever before, giving everything I have, and running every step in his memory.

Any donation, no matter how small, would mean the world and will help make a real difference.

This is all for you, Dad. Let’s do this ❤️