My reason for running the London City Marathon on behalf of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation is to support the remarkable work the Foundation does in inspiring and empowering young adults to pursue successful careers in the design industry.

From my own experience, I know firsthand the power of education to change the trajectory of a young person’s life. The architectural education I received at the Kent School of Art + Design, Queen’s University Belfast, and the Bartlett School of Architecture opened opportunities that would have been unimaginable for a boy raised on a working class housing estate in the south of Ireland.

Over almost twenty years at Foster + Partners, I’ve had the privilege of travelling the world, designing and delivering many of our projects, and working daily with some of the brightest minds in the profession. Their passion continues to inspire me to learn and grow.

By running the marathon — and with your generous support — we can help create opportunities for young people who may never have imagined a future in architecture or design. Together, we can help shape a young person’s life for the better.

That is a powerful thought. And worth every blister.