On the 27th April 2025, Jaymie and I, are gearing up to run two separate marathons— Jaymie in London and myself (Pheonix) in Manchester. About 0.01% of the population are daring (or crazy!) enough to take on a marathon in their lifetime, with its miles of muscle aches, mental walls, and moments of doubt, however, here’s a heartbreaking statistic: ~1 in 20 children in the UK will lose a parent before the age of 16—a far tougher journey than any marathon.

For Jaymie, the journey to support Winston's Wish is incredibly close to her heart. Just months ago, both her world and her sisters was turned upside down with the sudden news that their mother needed an urgent operation. But before the procedure even took place, their mother passed away, leaving Jaymie and Kerry (sister) to grapple with their own grief while having to explain this sudden loss to their mother’s young grandchildren. Jaymie knew the weight of this trauma could last a lifetime if not addressed, so she reached out to Winston’s Wish—and within 24 hours, they responded with compassionate, professional support. For Jaymie and her family, this was a lifeline, especially considering that NHS counseling services could take months to become available.

When I met Jaymie this year, I realised just how vital charities like Winston’s Wish are. Until then, I hadn’t known that immediate support like this even existed. With my younger cousins facing a similar loss when they lost their mother, but without the guidance of experienced professionals. They were left to manage their grief alone, lacking the tools and support that could have helped them process their loss and find a way forward.

Now, Jaymie and I are running together—two marathons, two cities, and one shared mission to support Winston’s Wish, so that no child has to face such profound loss without help. Running these races solo reflects the isolation children feel in their grief—feeling like they’re tackling a marathon of loss without a guide.

That’s where Winston’s Wish steps in. They’re the steady hand, the support team, the cheerleader for every child facing life’s hardest loss. Through counseling, creative therapy, and a safe community, they help children rebuild, showing them they don’t have to face the journey alone.

Every mile we run and every pound you donate brings hope to a grieving child. Help us turn each step into strength, and make sure no child has to “run” through loss alone.