In 2027, I’ll be taking on the London Marathon to raise £3,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

This isn’t just a fundraising challenge for me — it’s personal.

I’ve lost my Auntie June and my Grampy to dementia, and my Uncle Ray is currently living with it. Having dementia affect people I love has made me realise just how much this condition impacts not only the person diagnosed, but the entire family around them.

That includes the people who become carers.

Families can suddenly find themselves taking on responsibilities they never expected, supporting someone they love through changes that can be incredibly difficult to watch. The emotional and physical challenges can be huge, and I believe carers and families deserve just as much understanding and support.

So I’ve decided to give myself a challenge too.

Running a marathon will push me both mentally and physically. There will be days when I don’t want to train, long runs that will test me, and moments when I’ll wonder why I ever signed up for 26.2 miles!

But that challenge is a small reminder of the challenges faced every single day by people living with dementia and the families and carers supporting them.

I’ll be running in memory of Auntie June and my Grampy, while also running for Uncle Ray and everyone currently living with dementia.

I’m hoping to raise £3,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK to support research into better ways of understanding, diagnosing, treating and ultimately preventing the diseases that cause dementia.

If you can donate, no matter how big or small, I’d be incredibly grateful.

If you can’t donate, sharing my fundraiser with friends and family would also mean a lot.

26.2 miles. £3,000. One very personal reason to keep going.

For June. For Grampy. For Ray. And for all those living with dementia and the families and carers beside them. ❤️

Thank you for your support.