On the 25th May 2006, at the age of 3, I was diagnosed with leukaemia, a type of blood cancer. A disease that over 650 children are diagnosed with every single year. On 27th April 2025, I am running the London Marathon, for Leukaemia UK charity, with my friend Emma. 2025 is also the year I start my career as a children’s nurse, working on the exact same cancer ward I was a patient on, almost 20 years ago.

It feels a privilege to commence this career, it fuels the drive in me, as I see my younger self in my patients, and my parents in theirs.

Not only did my parents create that determination in me to give back to those who are going through what we did, but they are also the inspiration behind me getting into running and wanting to run the London Marathon. 5 years ago they both ran this marathon, also in aid of cancer research, it being the event that sparked their love for running, and I have since watched them in awe as they have become (speedy!) multi-marathon runners.

My family started raising money for leukaemia straight after my diagnosis, where my parents running the London marathon is just one of many events my family has taken part in to continue to raise money for cancer research over the last 20 years. Fundraising together throughout my childhood created many special memories with my parents and grandad (shown in some of the attached pictures) as I was determined to partake in every event possible, even whilst still receiving treatment!

I am so excited to take on this challenge with Emma, both running our first full marathon, especially at this time in my life which feels like a very special and fitting full-circle moment. I would be so grateful for any donations towards my London Marathon run in order to raise money to fight this disease, and support children and their families.

Thank you.