Why I’m running the London Marathon

When I was a young child, home didn’t always feel safe. My dad struggled with alcoholism and there was violence in our house. Some of my earliest memories are of feeling scared and unsure about what the future would look like.

Through all of that, my mum never stopped fighting for us. Even when there was very little money and life felt incredibly hard, she always found a way to keep going and keep us going too.

My mum sadly passed away last year, and one of the reasons I’m running the London Marathon is to honour her. I want to show that the strength she gave me has carried through my whole life.

Today I’m a father myself to two amazing daughters, Lily and Isla, who both have autism. They are the reason I want to make the world a little better and a little more understanding for autistic children and their families.

That’s why I’m proud to be running for Ambitious About Autism.

But this marathon is also personal in another way. Part of me is running for the little boy I once was — the 5 year old who felt scared and trapped and didn’t know if life would ever get better.

Crossing that finish line will be my way of saying to him:

“We made it. Look at what we built.”

If you’re able to donate, even a small amount, it will help support autistic children and families across the UK.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and for supporting such an important cause.