Nicola Packman

Why I am fundraising for Parkinson's UK

My lovely mum has been living with Parkinson’s for almost 20 years, so this is a cause that is incredibly close to my heart.

Having seen first-hand the impact Parkinson’s can have, it is an honour to run the London Marathon to raise money for a charity working towards finding a cure and developing better treatments, while providing invaluable support to people living with Parkinson’s and their families. It’s support that our family has benefited from over the years, and one that means so much to me.

Running the London Marathon has always been on my bucket list, but it will undoubtedly be the greatest physical challenge I’ve ever taken on. To do it in the year I turn 40 feels like a fitting moment to finally take it on.

Throughout everything Parkinson’s has thrown at her, Mum continues to show incredible determination and resilience. She simply refuses to let Parkinson’s stop her. She keeps going, and she inspires me every single day.

That determination and resilience is what I’m going to channel through every mile of training and, ultimately, on marathon day. I know this is going to be tough. There will be plenty of early mornings, long runs, tired legs and moments when 26.2 miles feels like a very long way! But knowing that every mile is helping to raise money for a cause that means so much to me and my family will make it all worthwhile.

I’d be so incredibly grateful for your support. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will give me an extra push when things get tough and help me reach my fundraising target while supporting such a worthwhile cause.

My mum continues to inspire me every day. The way she faces Parkinson’s, never lets it define her and just keeps going.

And if she can do that, I can do this.

This one’s for you, Mum. ❤️

Thank you so much for your support. 💙