Story
For dad ❤️
My amazing dad died in August 2025.
Although he had recently been poorly, it was completely unexpected and very sudden. It ripped a massive hole out of my life and I'm now trying to re-adjust to a world without him.
I've always enjoyed sports and exercise. Not long after dad passed away, I decided to turn that pain into something positive and applied to do the London Marathon in his name. It was too late as most charities had closed their spaces. However, I was on the waiting list for Action for Children and, in January 2026, just a week before what would have been dad's 69th birthday, they emailed to say I had a space.
I'm therefore a few months behind in my training, but running is helping to clear my head and give me a goal to aim for. I'm determined to take on this challenge and cross that finish line on Sunday 26 April.
Why Action for Children? ❤️
I want to remember dad for his life, rather than his death. Dad spent time in care when he was a kid. He didn't want that to define him, to the point some of his closest friends never knew. But it did shape the man he became and influence the decisions he made in life.
He'd always be looking out for people less fortunate: kids going through tough times, kids from broken homes, or kids who were beareaved.
At work he'd love giving people a chance, taking them under his wing, developing them. He was so generous with his time and support.
Action for Children wants every child in the UK to be safe and happy, with the chance to thrive. Dad wasn't always happy or thriving as a kid, but he broke that cycle which all too often repeats through the generations and allowed me and my brother to be safe and happy growing up. Running in his name to raise money and help children today feels very fitting and extremely special.