My Story

I only got into running last year, and my very first run was actually a fundraiser for neuroblastoma. It was the Eastbourne Half Marathon in the town where I live, which made it even more special for me. I felt incredibly proud to represent my local community while raising money for a meaningful cause. That experience showed me how powerful running can be when it’s connected to something bigger than yourself.

Running has since brought me a huge amount of joy. I’m a very athletic and physical person and I’ve always loved sport — particularly cycling and BMX — but running feels different. It’s such a universal sport. I often take part in more niche activities, which can be harder to relate to for most people, but with running I can speak to almost anyone about it. Whether it’s comparing times, sharing training struggles, or simply wishing someone luck before a race, there’s a real sense of mutual support rather than competition. That community feeling is something I really value.

My connection to DFSG is deeply personal. A good friend of mine, Daniel, is living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Supporting DFSG gives me and my friend Ed a meaningful way to stand behind him and others facing the same condition. When we ran the Cairo Half Marathon in Egypt — around the pyramids — we also aimed to fundraise for him. That experience was incredibly special.

One of the moments that really stayed with me was seeing Daniel come along to support us at a BMX event — one of the main sports I participate in. Seeing how much joy he got from being involved and supporting my sport made me want to give back even more. It strengthened my desire to focus on fundraising for those living with the same condition as him.

So far, I’ve completed two half marathons — the Eastbourne Half Marathon and the Cairo Half Marathon — and this will be my very first full marathon. That makes it particularly meaningful to me. To take on my first marathon while raising money for DFSG, and for Daniel, feels like a powerful milestone.