We’re running the Brighton Marathon for someone who means everything to us: Lidia.

Lidia is a mum to three of us: Isabel, Tom and Stefan and a Grandmother to Freddy. She is the heart of our family. She’s been married to Tony for over 30 years, and if you know her, you’ll know she’s the one who always shows up, always puts others first, and always keeps everyone together.

Recently, our family was shaken by Lidia’s diagnosis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL). CLL is a type of blood cancer that affects the white blood cells and, while it often progresses slowly, it is incurable and requires lifelong monitoring and treatment. Many people live with CLL for years, but the uncertainty, emotional toll, and long-term impact can be overwhelming not just for patients, but for their families too.

That’s why we’re raising money for CLL Support, a charity that provides vital information, emotional support, advocacy, and a sense of community to people living with CLL and those who love them. Having access to clear guidance and reassurance makes a huge difference when navigating a diagnosis like this.

So why the Brighton Marathon? Because it felt right to do something hard, together, for someone we love so deeply. Brighton holds special memories including weekend getaways, life long friends and now home for some of our family.

This will be the first marathon ever for Isabel, Tony, Tom and Rachel.

What started as an idea quickly turned into a commitment: early mornings, long runs, sore legs, and a lot of determination. Every step we take is for Lidia, and for everyone living with CLL.

We’re running to show our support, to raise awareness, and to give back to a charity that helps families like ours feel less alone. Thank you so much for supporting us. Every donation, message and share means more than we can put into words. 💙