A Marathon Effort: Kiera and Her Chauffeurs 🏃🧡👩‍🦽

We’re taking on the London Marathon! Andrew, Georgia, Ella, Robert and David will be pushing Kiera all 26.2 iconic miles on 26 April 🤩

Hello! Kiera here 👋. I can’t quite believe I’m writing this, but in April something beyond my wildest dreams is happening. After years of working within fundraising at MDUK… including on incredible events like the London Marathon, I’m finally getting the chance to experience this iconic day from the other side, as a participant! And I’ll be doing it with some of the closest people in my life: my husband Andrew, sisters Georgia and Ella, my dad Robert, and Georgia’s partner David. They’ll be pushing me the entire way in a specialised running wheelchair funded by MDUK last year, so people like me can experience amazing opportunities like this in the future (incredible, right?).

As most of you know, I live with a rare form of limb girdle muscular dystrophy, so rare they’ve not been able to fully diagnose my type yet (just my luck!), It’s a condition that affects every aspect of my life. Before my diagnosis, I was that child who never sat still and always had far too much energy. Obsessed with gymnastics and any sport that involved a ball (particularly football), blissfully unaware of what my future would hold.

I was diagnosed when I was 9, and by 18 I became a wheelchair user and this was something that was hugely difficult to accept. For years I resented my condition, but now I’m proud to say I’ve reached a point where I’ve accepted my situation, embrace life and make the most of every moment and opportunity that comes my way. And this challenge is me doing exactly that… and I can’t wait!

We are doing this in support of Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK) who are the leading charity in the UK that support the 100,000 children and adults living with muscle wasting conditions. Not only do they fund world-class research into these conditions, but they fund life changing support for people in the here and now too. They’ve been there every step of the way for my family and I from my diagnosis right up until now. I couldn’t think of a more worthwhile charity to raise money for.

Now, whilst I may sip a prosecco or two along the route (and deal with a slightly numb bum!), Andrew, Dad, Georgia, David and Ella will be putting in months of gruelling marathon training throughout the winter months, ready to take on the best marathon in the world come April… taking turns to push me along the way. Absolute legends!

They are the real heroes here, and if you could donate anything (no matter how big or small!) towards our ambitious target it would mean the absolute world. Thank you 🧡🧡🧡