Why I am fundraising for Parkinson's UK
Parkinson’s is a complex brain condition that has no cure and gets worse over time. It has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety. And Parkinson's is on the rise. Someone is diagnosed every 20 minutes in the UK today. By 2050, the number of people with Parkinson’s worldwide will double to 25 million.
Parkinson’s UK is the charity that’s here to support every Parkinson’s journey, every step of the way. Wherever you’re from, whatever you need.
From searching for a cure and campaigning for better health and care, to funding research into groundbreaking new treatments and running life-changing support services. It’s all driven by one mission: improving life with Parkinson’s.
That’s why I’m fundraising for Parkinson’s UK.
My updates
Wanting Relief
Saturday 13th JunA week has passed since I completed the Swansea Half Marathon in 1:42:48.
My legs have finally forgiven me.
For the first four days after the race, walking downstairs looked less like an athletic achievement and more like a man several decades older than his actual age.
But as the soreness has faded, I’ve found myself reflecting on those final miles.
The first half of the race felt surprisingly comfortable.
The atmosphere was incredible. The crowds were fantastic. I chatted with fellow runners, took in the scenery and spent most of the race gradually working my way through the field.
Then came the final few miles.
The point where everything changed.
Every step started to hurt.
Every kilometre felt longer than the last.
I knew I was still moving well, but mentally I was crying out for relief.
I kept looking ahead for the next distance marker.
The next corner.
The next sign that the finish line was getting closer.
At 16km, I remember thinking:
“Only a parkrun left.”
Normally that thought would sound encouraging.
At the time, it sounded ridiculous.
The effort increased.
The discomfort increased.
The temptation to ease off increased.
But so did the determination to finish well.
When I finally saw the 1:45 pacers ahead in the closing stages, I knew I had one final effort left.
I pushed.
The finish line came into view.
And a few moments later, I crossed it in 1:42:48.
Relief.
Pure relief.
As I’ve reflected on that moment this week, I’ve realised something.
No matter how difficult those final miles felt, I always knew relief was coming.
The finish line was getting closer with every step.
The discomfort was temporary.
The challenge would soon be over.
For many people living with Parkinson’s, life doesn’t work like that.
There isn’t a finish line waiting around the next corner.
There isn’t a medal at the end of the day.
The fatigue, frustration and daily challenges don’t simply disappear tomorrow morning.
That’s one of the reasons this fundraising journey matters so much to me.
My dad continues to face those realities every day, along with thousands of others living with Parkinson’s across the UK.
Yet one thing he has taught me is the value of perseverance.
Keep showing up.
Keep moving forward.
Keep going.
Or as Dad would say:
“Just plod on.”
Thank you to everyone who has supported, encouraged and donated so far.
The road to London 2027 continues.
The road to London
Sunday 7th JunSwansea Half Marathon: The Beginning of a Bigger Journey
Today I completed the Swansea Half Marathon in [1:42:48].
On the surface, that might not seem particularly remarkable. Thousands of people completed the race alongside me. I think I was 1688th!
But for me, this race means much more than a finish time.
It marks the beginning of a journey that I hope will eventually take me to the start line of the London Marathon 2027 as part of Team Parkinson’s UK.
It also marks the beginning of a fundraising campaign that is deeply personal.
From Non Runner to Half Marathon
If you had told me a year ago that I would be running a half marathon, I probably would have laughed.
As a teenager and young adult, I enjoyed sport, particularly football and badminton, but running was never something I particularly enjoyed. In fact, I’ve often joked that I only liked exercise if there was a ball involved.
Life became busy.
Work became demanding.
Family life became fuller.
Then came the arrival of our daughter, along with the wonderfully exhausting reality of being a parent.
At the same time, an old back injury continued to flare up. Every few months I would find myself lying on the floor in pain, unable to help much around the house and unable to be the husband and dad I wanted to be.
Something needed to change.
In October 2025, during a family trip to Cornwall, I laced up a pair of running shoes and went for a run.
Then another.
Then another.
For reasons I still struggle to fully explain, I loved it.
Not because it was easy.
Because it wasn’t.
I was unfit. My lungs burned. My legs complained. Every hill felt twice as steep as it looked.
But for the first time in years, I had found something that challenged me physically and mentally.
More importantly, I had found something that made me want to come back and do it again.
A dream that I had carried since my teenage years suddenly resurfaced.
Could I run a marathon before I turned 40?
Why Parkinson’s UK?
The answer begins with my dad.
In April 2023, Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
For more than three decades he has served communities across Northern Ireland as a pastor. Throughout my life I have watched him support families through grief, illness, crisis and hardship. He has spent countless hours helping other people, often behind the scenes and without recognition.
When Dad turned 60, he was asked what he was most looking forward to in life.
His answer was immediate.
“Having grandkids and enjoying time with them.”
At the time, there were no grandchildren.
A few years later, grandchildren arrived.
Around the same time, Parkinson’s arrived too.
That timing has always felt particularly cruel.
Dad still loves spending time with his grandchildren. He still lights up around them. He still wants to play with them.
But Parkinson’s makes many of those simple moments much harder than they should be.
More Than Just Tremors
Before Dad’s diagnosis, I knew very little about Parkinson’s.
Like many people, I associated it mainly with shaking.
What I’ve learned since is that Parkinson’s is far more complex.
Recently, Dad and I sat down to record a conversation about his experience.
One statement stood out above all others.
“People see what happens on the outside, but they’re not seeing what’s happening on the inside.”
That single sentence changed the way I think about Parkinson’s.
The tremors are visible.
The fatigue often isn’t.
The sleep disruption isn’t.
The pain isn’t.
The anxiety isn’t.
The mental effort required to keep going isn’t.
One of the things that struck me most during our conversation was that Dad never spoke about Parkinson’s only affecting him.
Instead, he said:
“It doesn’t just hit one person in the family, it affects everybody.”
That has stayed with me.
Still Showing Up
What inspires me most is not Dad’s diagnosis.
It’s his response to it.
He still preaches.
He still leads.
He still serves.
He still encourages.
He still shows up.
That doesn’t mean Parkinson’s is easy.
Far from it.
It simply means he refuses to let it become the defining feature of his life.
That resilience has always been part of who he is.
It’s also one of the reasons I’m taking on this challenge.
The Road Ahead
Today’s race is not the destination.
It’s the beginning.
Eight months ago I couldn’t run 5km without stopping to catch my breath.
Today I completed my first half marathon.
The next chapter is still unwritten.
I’ve entered the London Marathon ballot and have also applied for a charity place with Parkinson’s UK. I expect to hear more in August.
Whatever happens, the goal remains the same.
To complete my first marathon before I turn 40.
To raise awareness of Parkinson’s.
To support Parkinson’s UK.
And to honour a man who has spent his life serving others and continues to persevere every single day.
Thank you for following the journey.
The road to London starts here.
In the beginning
Sunday 7th Jun
Incredible achievement (and that's even before you factor in the blisters!).