As many people know, I love Parkrun and everything it represents, and I am incredibly proud to have been selected as part of its first London Marathon team.

My partner, Tim, and I were introduced to Parkrun in 2022. For me, it provided the opportunity to take part in an activity I never thought I could do - at my own pace, without ever feeling inadequate, and with encouragement and support from every direction. Tim was already an exercise enthusiast, but after receiving the devastating diagnosis of incurable kidney cancer, Parkrun became another way for him to do everything possible to support his treatment and manage the disease for as long as he could. Many might have asked, "what's the point?", but Tim listened to his doctors and understood that exercise could only help. He continued attending weekly parkruns, even walking one just a week before he died.

Tim had always dreamed of running the London Marathon but was never successful in securing a place, so it feels especially meaningful that I am doing this in his memory. Knowing that this would not be easy - particularly at my age and with no previous experience - I began training in September and completed my first half marathon in November. Although Tim often encouraged me to enter more running events, I can almost hear him saying, "I didn't mean 26 miles!"

Parkrun is about so much more than exercise, it's about people, community, and the joy it brings. I am fortunate to do this alongside family members, and we take time to connect and share over breakfast afterward - an experience that has supported us through life's highs and lows.

Thank you for taking time to read this, and any support to help keep Parkrun free for everyone would be very much appreciated.