In April 2026, I’ll be taking on the huge challenge of running the London Landmarks Half Marathon — all in support of a cause that means the world to me.

It’s been a long time since my last race (my disastrous London Marathon attempt back in 2018!), but here I am — one hip replacement and two kids later — ready to give running another go. This time, I’m less focused on my personal best and more on just finishing and raising awareness for something truly important.

Why I’m Running 🏃‍♀️

I’m running for Natasha’s Allergy Research Foundation, a charity very close to my heart. My little boy John, now three, has multiple food allergies that first appeared when he was just six months old. He’s currently allergic to sesame and most tree nuts and could go into anaphylaxis if he were to eat - or come into close contact with any of these foods.

We feel incredibly lucky that he’s outgrown some of his earlier allergies — he used to react to cow’s milk, egg, peanut, and fish — but the nuts and sesame will be lifelong. We carry an epi-pen everywhere as even a trace amount, or touching a surface that’s come into contact with his allergens, can cause a reaction.

Life with allergies isn’t as simple as “just avoiding” certain foods. Cross-contamination is everywhere. Eating out requires calls ahead, careful planning, and sometimes accepting that there’s nothing safe for him on the menu. Even supermarket shopping is tough — those dreaded “may contain nuts/sesame” labels pop up on everything from bread and chocolate to kids’ snacks and ready meals. We’ve taken risks before, and even those “may contain” foods have caused an allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis is constantly in the back of our minds - whenever we eat out, when he’s at nursery and when he eats something new for the first time. Birthday parties are a minefield (we usually take our own cake) and play dates are daunting. Inevitably we don’t let him do anything that we don’t deem safe. Some people may see that at overprotective but we are just trying to keep him safe.

Why This Charity Matters 🌱

When I first found out about John’s allergies, I felt completely lost — and, if I’m honest, blamed myself. I did everything “right”: early allergen introduction, healthy diet, natural birth — but allergies don’t work that way.

The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation has been an incredible source of support and education. They’ve helped connect families like ours, provided invaluable school and nursery resources, and fought tirelessly to make the world safer for people with food allergies.

Natasha’s parents are truly inspiring. After losing their daughter to a severe allergic reaction from a wrongly labelled food, they’ve campaigned for life-changing reforms in allergy awareness and food labelling. Their strength and advocacy are why I’m proud to run in Natasha’s name.

Every Donation Helps ❤️

Thank you so much for donating whatever you can — big or small — it truly makes a massive difference. Your support will help fund vital research and education, and bring us one step closer to a world that’s safer for people living with allergies.