Miles for My NF1 Warrior – Running for My Children 💛

I’m taking on the biggest challenge of my life for my children—especially my son, Sonny, our “Sonny sunshine” who brings so much light into our lives.

Sonny was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) at just 10 months old. Like many families, we had never even heard of NF1 before his diagnosis. Since then, our lives have been filled with hospital appointments, scans, tests, and a constant sense of uncertainty.

Sonny faces daily challenges. His NF1 has caused significant developmental delays both physically and mentally. But despite everything, he shows incredible strength, determination, and resilience every single day. He truly is our little warrior.

His big sister, who is four, has also been part of this journey in her own way. She has learned patience, understanding, and compassion beyond her years, and the bond they share is incredibly special. It’s a reminder that this condition doesn’t just affect one person—it impacts the whole family.

I’ve entered the London Marathon ballot and applied for a charity place, and I’m determined to take on this challenge in support of my children.

But I’m not waiting around.

I’m starting from scratch and committing to a series of running challenges to build myself up, raise awareness, and fundraise along the way.

The truth is—I’m not a runner.

I haven’t properly run since cross country at school back in 2001. Since then, the only run I’ve attempted was a 5K fun run—which, if I’m honest, took me what felt like a lifetime and involved far more walking than running!

But this time, things are different.

Shortly after Sonny’s diagnosis, I raised £500 for Nerve Tumours UK through a community Christmas giveaway supported by local businesses. It showed me just how powerful people can be when they come together—and now I want to go even further.

This time, I’m aiming to raise a minimum of £1,500—and hopefully much more.

About Nerve Tumours UK

Nerve Tumours UK supports individuals and families affected by conditions like Neurofibromatosis. They fund specialist nurses, provide vital support services, and invest in research to better understand these conditions and improve lives.

For families like ours, charities like this make a real difference—offering guidance, support, and reassurance when it’s needed most.

I’ll be sharing my journey every step of the way—from those very first difficult runs to each milestone along the way—while also raising awareness of NF1 and what life is really like for families like ours.

If you’d like to follow along, support, or simply learn more, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok at @NF1RunningMum.

Through this challenge, I want to:

💛 Raise awareness of NF1—a condition that is still not widely understood

💛 Support families like ours who are navigating this journey

💛 Help fund research and services through Nerve Tumours UK

Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference.

And every mile I run is for my children.

Thank you so much for your support—it truly means everything to us 💛