In September 2025, my family lost my nephew, Kenzie, to meningitis. He was just 19 years old.

What began as an ear infection progressed rapidly into meningitis and encephalitis. Within 24hrs, Kenzie went from being an otherwise healthy young man with an ear infection, to having emergency surgery at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Despite the efforts of the surgeons, the swelling on his brain was too severe. On 1st September, we were told he was brain dead. Two days later, his life support was switched off.

Before this happened, I had no idea that young adults were such a high risk group for meningitis and I didn’t really comprehend how quickly it could take hold. Like many people, I thought it mainly affected babies and young children.

That’s why I’m running the 2027 London Marathon for the Meningitis Research Foundation to fund research, raise awareness, and hopefully contribute to sparing other families the same loss.

Thank you for supporting me. This one’s for you, Kenz ❤️