On March 17th, 2026, it will be one whole year since my beautiful daughter Dixie rang the bell to mark the completion of her cancer treatment.

To celebrate this milestone, I’ve decided to run 10km a day ( 310km throughout March) to raise money for our children’s hospital — specifically the Starlight Ward, where we spent so much of our time during Dixie’s treatment.

Exercise became my lifeline during that period. It was one of the few things that helped me keep my mental health steady while everything else felt completely out of my control. Because of that, I’d love to raise enough money to give something back in a way that truly supports other parents walking the same path.

Hospital stays can be long, exhausting, and emotionally draining. Parents often don’t want to leave their child’s bedside — but at the same time are desperately in need of some form of self-care. From my own experience, I truly believe that physical activity can be a powerful tool in preventing mental health from breaking down.

My hope is to provide the ward with simple, accessible equipment — such as running pads or compact exercise equipment — that parents could use in their rooms. Even a light jog, a walk while reading a book, or simply getting a few steps in could help release built-up energy and provide a small mental reset.

Parents should feel supported and encouraged to look after themselves while caring for their children. Being stuck in hospital for days or weeks on end is incredibly hard, and access to exercise shouldn’t feel like a luxury — it should be normalised.

Because in order to take care of our children properly, we need — and deserve — to take care of ourselves too.