This year will be my 10th London Marathon (my first being in 2011). The race always holds a special place in my heart. In 2008 me and my Dad were watching the race on TV and both declared we'd like to try and run it (Dad at this point having just turned 70 years old!).

So we both started running. Whenever we met up it gave us a topic to talk about and it wasn't long before both of us were doing races - the Newbury 10k in 2008 being our first.

Despite both being unsuccessful in the 2009 London Marathon ballot we both carried on running as it became our favourite pastime. Although Dad never did a marathon he still completed half marathon races in his 70's.

I got into the 2011 London Marathon on a 'Good For Age' entry and all my races there since have been on the same basis (or Championship entry). Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2015 and his condition gradually worsened to the point that he had to move into a residential care home where he has been for the last 6 years.

When Dad was first diagnosed I made sure we ran some 10k races together - these races are my most memorable and favourite ones I've ever done. Even when Dad's condition deteriorated the 2 questions he'd always ask me were 'How are you?' and 'How's your running going?'.

To mark my 10th London marathon and as a tribute to my amazing Dad - I've set myself the challenge of completing four 50 mile races in 2024 (the Centurion 'Grand Slam' -https://www.centurionrunning.com/section/grandslam). The first of these the South Downs Way 50 is just 8 days before the London Marathon so it will be a tough challenge to keep my record of finishing every London in under 3 hours (but I intend to give it a go!).

Anything you can afford to donate is much appreciated and I hope to put on a couple of fundraising events before the last 50 mile of the year (Wendover Woods in November) - watch this space!

At Alzheimer’s Society we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

We do this by giving help to those living with dementia today, and providing hope for the future.