Fitness and I are like oil and water—never quite mix! But hey, Crisis has given me a charity spot in the TCS London Marathon 2025! Everyone who knows me is more shocked than I was when I got the email, but their disbelief is my fuel! 🏃‍♂️💪 #NotIntoFitness #TCSLondonMarathon #ChallengeAccepted

I'll be running in loving memory of Jake Jacobs, my best friend in the entire world and the unofficial godfather to my children, Elijah and Erin. Jake passed away suddenly in February 2021, leaving an irreplaceable void in our hearts.

Jake moved to Australia in 2018, a decision that meant we missed him deeply even then, but nothing could have prepared us for the devastation of his death in 2021. It was a time when Covid-19 still had a hold on the world, and those who loved him the most could only say goodbye via a web funeral. The loss of Jake is a wound that will torture me for a lifetime, but I strive to remember him in the ways I know he would want me to.

Jake loved exercise and had a special fondness for watching the sunrise or sunset. He was always eager to catch up during a long walk, finding joy in the simple beauty of nature. Jake struggled with his own mental health, and he often spoke about the importance of endorphins from exercise. He was happiest when exercising in sunny weather!

Jake was also one of the kindest souls I have ever encountered. I often wondered if he struggled with his mental health because he felt so deeply for others. Since his death, every penny I have raised in Jake's name has gone to Crisis, a charity close to his heart. Jake had a habit of not only purchasing a hot meal for homeless people but also stopping to chat with them. During the colder months, he would carry sleeping bags and warm garments in his car, just in case he saw someone sleeping outside. I vividly remember driving Jake to a cashpoint after an evening out so that he could withdraw money for a young man we’d seen sleeping outside a restaurant. That was Jake at his very core—a young man always looking out for others.

In honour of Jake, I applied for the London Marathon, aiming to exercise and raise money for the homeless—two things Jake felt passionately about. To my surprise, I was chosen by Crisis to participate. Although I am terrified and almost declined, I know how hilarious Jake would find it that his least fit friend is running a marathon in his memory. More importantly, I know how proud he would be. So, I am determined to train and complete the marathon for my best friend and for Crisis.

Jake Jacobs may no longer be with us in person, but his spirit, kindness, and passion for helping others continue to inspire me every day

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