I still can’t believe I’m saying this, but… I’m running the London Marathon 2025! And not just that, I got in through the ballot, first-timer's luck hey?! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd actually get a place, but here we are, 26.2 miles staring me in the face, and honestly? Younger Megs wouldn't believe it. But, here she is, doing it.

Because here’s the thing, I grew up thinking my body wasn’t ever built for something like this. I believed running was for a certain body type, fast runners. Not for someone like me a slow, beginner runner. Social media, beauty standards, the world in general, it all made me feel like my body type shouldn’t run, let alone ever think she could run a whole marathon.

But this marathon is about so much more than running. It’s about something much, much bigger.

At the end of 2024, I lost my best friend Kyle, suddenly. Grief like that is impossible to put into words and I still don't believe it's real in all honesty. One day, they’re here and the next day, they’re not and you’re left trying to figure out how the world can just keep turning when yours has completely shattered.

Running became my escape. Remember, running does not need to always be competitive or about a fast time, sometimes it's only purpose is to make us feel that little bit better on what could be a dark and gloomy day. When my mind gets too loud, when the grief feels too heavy, when I just don’t know what else to do, I run. Slowly, step by step, mile by mile, it gives me a place to put all the feelings that don’t have words. I never expected running to feel like such a lifeline, but I’m SO incredibly grateful for it.

And grief is just one of the battles so many of us face. Mental health struggles are not always so obvious to spot. Sometimes, they look like the friend who’s always "fine." The one who shows up, makes jokes, keeps going, even when everything inside them feels like too much. I have been that person. I know and love so many people who have been that person. And I know how easy it is to feel like you have to do it all alone.

But you’re not alone.

That’s why I’m raising money for Mind, a charity that does life-changing work to support people struggling with their mental health. 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem each year. That’s someone’s best friend, sibling, partner, parent. That is us. And no one should have to go through it alone.

I may have been ridiculously lucky to get a ballot place, but I still want to raise as much as I possibly can for this incredible cause. So whether I sprint, shuffle, or crawl across that finish line (which is very possible), I’ll be doing it for something far greater than myself.

If you can donate, even just the price of a coffee, it would mean the absolute world. Every penny raised will help more than you'll ever realise. So, thank you for being part of this journey with me and see you at the finish line on the 27th April 2025.

Love, Megs💙