In 2024, both my Dad and my friend Katie’s Mum lost their battles with cancer within the same week of each other. They both were able to receive the important and crucial end-of-life care from local hospices, which took away their pain in their final days and provided much needed comfort.

Katie and I met studying Sports degrees at a London university, and in our 15 years of friendship have always said that we’d love to run the London Marathon together. Over time, especially after I moved to Canada, that dream seemed less and less likely to become reality.

I’m now so pleased to share that we’ve both been chosen, as well as one of her sisters Amy, by Saint Michael’s Hospice to run and raise money for their amazing charity. This is the same hospice that was able to give Katie’s mum Sally the palliative care that she and her family so deserved. She wasn’t just Katie’s mum, but also the grandmother of my Godson. Therefore it means a lot to me to be able to do this in her memory and to support the Pickard family, all while fulfilling my running dream.

I’ve been running casually on and off for over 10 years, and I have always wanted London, as my home city, to be my first marathon. With a special thanks to my friend Matt’s perfectly timed wedding bringing me to the UK within one week of the race, I’m finally able to make this a reality.

As I begin my race training, I hope you’ll consider donating to this incredible cause. Funding for hospice services is crucial and will likely impact everyone at some point, whether directly or through someone dear to you. These services provide invaluable support to families during their most challenging moments, just as they did for both our families.

On a final note, thank you in advance to everyone that will be helping me achieve my goal, whether that’s by money donation, marathon advice, or moral support, it all means so so much to me 🫶🏼