On May 1st, 2025, I was diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease. As an active busy person I never imagined facing a progressive neurological condition in my late 40's!

Parkinson’s doesn’t just affect older people. Young-onset Parkinson’s can strike before 50, changing lives in ways most people don’t see — from tremors and stiffness to fatigue, anxiety, and more.

On the day of my diagnosis, in a fit of defiance, I entered the London Marathon ballot and when I calmed down the next day was relieved that with 1.1million entries that I had practically no chance of a place! I hadn't been running in over a year either.

The ballot result was almost a bigger shock than the Parkys.... I am IN!

There’s no cure for Parkinsons yet, but there is hope — and that’s why I’m taking on the London Marathon 2026, running, walking or even crawling ....

I'm raising funds for Parkinson’s UK, to support life-changing research and vital support for people like me. It won’t be easy, but neither is living with Parkinson’s — and I’m ready for the challenge. 💪

💙 Please donate if you can — every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. And if you can’t give, sharing this page helps more than you know.

Thank you so much for your support 🙏

UPDATE 1st Feb 2026

This has got to be the hardest marathon training I have ever had to do…. Gone are the days of popping in a few (just 8 is my record) long runs then mooching round the marathon fuelled on Lucozade and glucose tabs!

It’s been tough trying to fit in and motivate myself to do the miles these last couple of months…. The cold seems to make it even harder but luckily thanks to my amazing friend Gaby I have been able to get some treadmill miles in and that has definitely helped… not only fitness but helping me coordinate faster steps rather than the ‘shuffle run’ I prefer…

So today had to be back out on the roads to Dulverton and back…. 3hours and 14.5 miles 👍 12 weeks to go to LM 👌… at least with the hills round here a 20miler will be perfectly acceptable as my longest run before marathon 😜 so if you see me out and about training please do cheer me on… and thank you to the very kind lady in the blue car who offered to give me a lift home… clearly I was looking pretty desperate by that point 😬😂

So many of you have already sponsored me and I am so grateful …

UPDATE 1st April 2026

It’s April Fools Day and I do wonder if this was a bit of a foolish thing to try to do BUT with the support of my brilliant friends I have managed to get some long runs in!

Katya Wainwright has driven a four hour round trip not once but twice, to accompany me on two hour/10mile outings up on Exmoor and wonderkid Jessica Davidson who had only done a max of 13.1 beforehand, put herself through a torturous four hours and 18.6 miles with me just a few weeks ago!

Yesterday I completed another 18miles (including 3000ft of climb) with running buddy Laura Taylor whom I ran with many years ago. Fortuitously for me, we bumped into each other at my daughters school run and Laura with her friend Hayley were perfect company for one of the most murderous walk/runs I have ever done on Exmoor!

So that’s it for long mileage and long hours… now I am focussing on short distances at a slightly quicker pace and will then taper down ready for 26th April. My expected LM time is about 6 hours and I will be soaking up the atmosphere, grateful for the chance to do this once more thanks to the drugs that keep me going. I will share my runner number so if you want to track me you can.

So far we have raised nearly £3000 which is incredible and I am so grateful to everyone who has donated. It has kept me going on days I have felt it is all too much…. I feel I can’t let you all down and that gets my butt out of the door!

NEXT STEP…. London 🏃‍♀️❤️🤞