My Story

I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that I’ll be running the 2026 TCS London Marathon in support of Young Lives vs Cancer.

Earlier this year, I completed my first ever marathon in Munich, Germany - finishing in 3 hours and 27 minutes. Fueled by that experience (and my growing love for running!), I’m aiming to beat my time with a target of 3 hours and 15 minutes in London.

Young Lives vs Cancer is a charity that’s very close to my heart. Their continuous, compassionate support helps so many young people and their families face cancer with strength and dignity. Through my company, Topek Southern Limited, I’ve had the privilege of taking part in several charity fundraising events - but this one is especially personal.

In 2006, my brother-in-law Josef was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He underwent six months of intensive chemotherapy as part of a European trial, following a rise in diagnoses among young males. Thankfully, Josef responded well to treatment - despite a serious bout of sepsis after his final infusion - and showed incredible resilience throughout.

During that time, Young Lives vs Cancer were a lifeline for our family. They provided accommodation so Josef’s family could stay close while he underwent treatment, and offered counselling and emotional support during an unimaginably difficult period.

Stories like Josef’s show the incredible impact this charity has - helping families find strength, stay connected, and never feel alone in the fight against cancer.

We’ll face it all together - but we can’t do it without you.

By sponsoring me, you’ll be supporting children, young people, and families facing cancer across the UK. Whether you donate £5 or £500, your contribution makes a real difference.