For the past few months, Michelle and I have been sharing snippets of our marathon training without much context. It’s time to tell the story behind it.

Michelle’s journey began after the heartbreaking loss of her sister to cancer. Before she passed, she told her to take her health seriously - because it’s something so many of us take for granted. That moment changed everything for Michelle. It set her on a fitness journey, and eventually our paths crossed.

We’ve now been training together for over a year - with plenty of ups and downs along the way - but through persistence, things began to fall into place. What started as a goal of getting stronger and losing weight has now grown into something much bigger.

Michelle is blind, and she hasn’t run in years. This will be her first marathon back and my very first marathon ever - not to mention my first time guiding someone who is blind. It’s a challenge that means the world to both of us.

We’ll be running the London Marathon to raise money for Guide Dogs. Michelle’s goal is to raise enough to name a guide dog in memory of her late sister - a lasting tribute that will continue her legacy by changing someone else’s life.

This isn’t just about running 26.2 miles - it’s about resilience, hope, and honouring a promise.

Neilie Johnstone

#LondonMarathon #GuideDogs #RunningForACause #BlindRunner #TeamMichelle