I'm so excited to be running the London Marathon 2026 for team Loros! After year after year of that annual "London Marathon ballot rejection email" I couldn't believe it when this year I got a place through the ballot!

I've always dreamed of running the London Marathon since I was young, and seeing my dad's London Marathon medal from 1982 on display at home. I ran my first marathon at Manchester last year and absolutely loved it. However I have always had the dream of running London before I hit 40, so when I got the email confirming a ballot place it seemed it was just meant to be!

I've been running since 2018 after losing weight with slimming world, and I'm a huge advocate for the mental and physical health benefits running brings. I've worked my way up from couch to 5k through to the marathon last year which was the fulfillment of a life long dream and something that at my heaviest, I could never have dreamt of achieving. You'll see me at parkrun every week, and pounding the pavements come rain or shine week in week out.

Having secured a ballot place, it was a very easy decision for me to decide to join team Loros. This outstanding local charity provides free and personalized care at the end of life for patients and their families. As a Leicestershire GP I see first hand every week the difference Loros makes to patients and their families. They provide compassionate care and after often a source of light in a very dark place. I was heartbroken to see the cuts they have recently had to make to their services because of funding shortfalls, including a big reduction in their inpatient beds and day services. Hospices rely almost entirely on charitable funding for their income as, shockingly this is not funded through the NHS. These services are a lifeline for patients and their families, and for us as GPs. It's my honour and privilege to raise as much money as I can for such a worthy local cause. Please dig deep.