I am running the London Marathon 2026 for Tŷ Hafan. Here's why;

I grew up with two severely handicapped brothers; Steven, 5 years older than me, and Edward, 3 years younger.

We spent a lot of our childhoods in hospitals, particularly Morriston in Swansea and Great Ormond Street in London, and my parents barely had a moment to think, between the constant demands of my entirely dependant brothers, and the various stresses I put on them as I moved through childhood.

Edward spent much of his life in hospital, and died when he was 7. Mum and Dad cared full time for Steven until his death at 29. During my brothers' lives and long after they had gone, Mum raised money for a number of charities who helped disabled children and their families. She was also instrumental in the setting up of a respite care unit in Swansea, giving severely handicapped children a safe, stimulating and loving place to visit, while their families were able to take a break from their caring duties. So many families in South Wales benefited from the camaraderie and support provided by a focused, specialist centre accessible to them for the first time.

At the ends of their lives, both Edward and Steven (and therefore also my parents) spent a lot of time in hospital, with Mum and Dad trying to make them comfortable and spending precious time with them. Despite the tremendous efforts of hospital staff, many of whom became lifelong friends, regularly visiting hospital to visit your life-limited sibling or child can be a horribly upsetting experience.

Thankfully, there is now a place called Tŷ Hafan, which provides a sanctuary for children with life-limiting illnesses, and their families. They support them during their lives, through their deaths, and beyond.

In the memory of Steven, Edward and my more recently departed parents, I'm proud to be running the London Marathon for Tŷ Hafan, helping them to support more families who are facing the horror of having to say goodbye to their beloved children or siblings.

At the moment, 90% of families in Wales whose child’s life will be short are not receiving the support they need. Every step I take will help Tŷ Hafan achieve their ambition to make sure that no family in Wales faces their child’s short life on their own.

Thank you for your support!