I was diagnosed with von Willebrand’s Type 1 at age 2. Fortunately, aside from some challenging nosebleeds and a serious joint bleed at 13, I've mostly avoided severe complications. However, my family's experience with this condition has shaped my life.

My mother was diagnosed at 14, leading to the discovery that her father and grandmother also had von Willebrand’s. My mother has faced significant challenges, including serious bleeding, multiple transfusions, and lengthy hospital stays. Despite this, she and my grandfather were incredibly fortunate to receive uncontaminated blood products in the 1980s, avoiding infections like hepatitis C or HIV/Aids, which many others weren’t able to escape.

This has inspired me to give back. I'm running in the London Marathon to raise funds for The Haemophilia Society, aiming to collect over £2,500. The society has supported people like my family and those less fortunate who faced devastating consequences from tainted blood products. Running is something I love, and I’m mindful that many haemophiliacs can’t enjoy it without risking injury. It’s a privilege to represent them and support a cause that’s so personal to me.

Your support would mean the world to me