On Sunday 26 April 2026, I will be running the London Marathon as part of the Scleroderma and Raynaud’s UK (SRUK) team.

I'm doing it in honour of and for someone incredibly special: my mum, Minita "Minnie" Patel, who sadly passed away in May, aged 57.

She was first diagnosed with Raynaud's at 20 year's old. This progressed to Scleroderma when she was 27. At age 45 she was diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease. Each incurable diagnosis brought its own challenges, yet through it all my mum stayed persistently strong, always smiling and never letting her health define her.

Many people who saw her wouldn't have known just how much she was going through. Her warmth, kindness, positivity and smile always shone through.

She was incredibly brave and whilst she won't be here physically to cheer me on, the strength she continuously showed is what will keep me going on the day. 💜

SRUK supports those living with Scleroderma and Raynaud's, funds vital research and works to raise awareness. I only became aware of these two conditions due to my mum. They are often hidden yet affect thousands of people in the UK - up to 19,000 people live with Scleroderma and up to 10 million live with Raynaud’s.

Please support my fundraising efforts. Together we can increase awareness and understanding of Scleroderma and Raynaud's and fund research to ultimately find a cure. Every donation will make a difference and will be hugely appreciated.

And one small request: when you donate, please put a song in the comments and I’ll include it in my playlist on the day. 🎶

Thank you.