On 19th April 2026, I’ll be running the Manchester Marathon for Epilepsy Action. Three years ago, my cousin, Sammi - a 34-year-old mum of five and my childhood role model - saw her life change forever. What started as a hospital visit for a fast heart rate spiralled into a nightmare of unexplained seizures.

The Fight For a Diagnosis

For a long time, Sammi was left without answers. Despite having seizures almost daily, she was sent home and told they might not be epileptic. It took the intervention of a GP, who had tragically lost her own daughter to epilepsy, to push for the testing Sammi desperately needed.

In 2023, a sleep-deprived brain scan (EEG) finally confirmed the truth: Epilepsy. Doctors believe she may have lived with it since birth, unnoticed until now.

Sammi’s Journey Has Been Harder Than Most Can Imagine:

➡️ She has drug-resistant epilepsy: The seizures have continued, even though she has exhausted multiple medications and faced awful side effects.

➡️ 10+ seizures a day: Sammi battles both epileptic and non-epileptic seizures.

➡️ The stigma: Because her condition is complex, she has even faced medical professionals who wrongly assumed she was "faking" her symptoms.

➡️ The constant risk: Living with drug-resistant epilepsy means facing the 1 in 150 risk of SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy).

Survival and Strength

In 2024, Sammi suffered status epilepticus - a prolonged seizure that stopped her breathing. She was placed on a ventilator and spent five months in the hospital. In 2025, she was admitted for another three months, requiring CPR and resuscitation. Yet, through the ventilators and the emergency medication, Sammi has never stopped being an extraordinary mum. Even from a hospital bed, she has organised birthday celebrations for her children and created new routines to stay connected with her family.

Why I’m Running

Taking on 26.2 miles is the biggest physical challenge of my life, and the training ahead is daunting.

However, any exhaustion I feel during my training or the pain I’ll hit at mile 20 is nothing compared to the battle Sammi fights every single day. When my legs feel heavy, I will be thinking of her resilience. I am running to raise awareness for a condition that is so deeply misunderstood, and to support Epilepsy Action.

This charity provides the vital research, education, and support that families like ours desperately rely on. They help ensure that no one has to face the fear and isolation of epilepsy alone.

If you can donate, share this page, or simply take a moment to learn more about epilepsy, it would mean more than I can put into words. Thank you for supporting my first marathon and for standing with Sammi and our family. 💜