For as long as I can remember, I have loved watching the London Marathon but to actually run it felt a seemingly distant dream. However, on Sunday 27th April 2025, that dream will become reality as I run the London Marathon in support of the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity.

This event holds great personal significance. Firstly, the London marathon for me has always been my ultimate running goal and something I have hoped to do for as long as I’ve been running. It's an inspirational event that provides a fundraising platform for countless vital charities and empowers everyone, from elite athletes to those taking their first steps on the running journey, to challenge themselves and achieve their personal goals. Secondly, it allows me to combine my love for running with my commitment to supporting a personally meaningful cause. Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity is a small but vital charity dedicated to providing invaluable support to individuals with dyslexia and their families.

Since 1971, Helen Arkell has provided life changing support, empowering countless individuals by removing the barriers to learning and life that dyslexia can present. They offer expert guidance, advice, and information to those with dyslexia, as well as their parents, teachers, and employers.

This support is crucial, as the stigma surrounding neurodiversity, including dyslexia, remains a significant challenge, as well as being massively underfunded. I have personally experienced the challenges of neurodiversity firsthand, and having access to the support and understanding that Helen Arkell provides would have been greatly beneficial to me growing up. My hope is that by raising money for this incredible charity, I can help ensure that others receive the support they deserve and that awareness and perceptions of neurodiversity, particularly dyslexia, is fostered within families, schools, and workplaces, regardless of socioeconomic background. Helen Arkell's commitment to expanding their reach beyond Surrey through regional teams is a testament to their dedication to making a wider impact.

After a knee injury forced me to withdraw from the Paris Marathon last year, I am excited to return to running to tackle this incredible challenge in my home city of London. I can't wait to line up in April and would be incredibly grateful for any support you can offer, not only in my fundraising efforts for this important cause, but also in providing the motivation to keep pushing through the winter training!