Why I am fundraising for Parkinson's UK
I’m fundraising for Parkinson’s UK because Parkinson’s is something that has had a profound impact on my family and my life.
I lost my dad to Parkinson’s in 2023. During the final years of his life, I saw first-hand how cruel and unpredictable this disease can be, not only for the person living with it but for the family around them. The support Parkinson’s UK gave my dad during that time meant more than I can put into words.
Sadly, Parkinson’s hasn’t stopped there. I have since lost a great uncle on my wife’s side to the disease, and my father-in-law is currently living with Parkinson’s too. It has become a huge part of our family story, which makes the opportunity to fundraise for Parkinson’s UK incredibly personal to me.
I’m an incredibly committed runner and completing the London Marathon has been a lifelong ambition. To finally have the chance to run it in the year I turn 40 is something I never thought I’d get to experience.
To make it even more meaningful, I’ll be taking on the Manchester Marathon just six days before London, with my Saturday charity place in London giving me an incredible back-to-back marathon challenge.
But these miles will mean so much more than simply crossing two finish lines. Every mile will be for my dad, my family, and everyone whose life has been affected by Parkinson’s.
I know £2,300 is a big fundraising target, but I’m determined to give everything I can to reach it — and hopefully go far beyond it. If the miles I run can help Parkinson’s UK continue supporting families like mine, fund vital research and work towards a future where fewer families have to experience what ours has, then every painful step will be worth it.
I can never repay Parkinson’s UK for the support they gave my dad and our family. His doctor and team were there every step of the way, navigating each changing symptom as it progressed. No question was ever too much, and the guidance and support I will be forever grateful for.
What I can do though is put my feet on the start line, carry his memory with me for every one of those 52.4 miles, and make every step count for the families who are still living with Parkinson’s today. If I can turn my pain into something that helps others, then every mile will have a purpose. We will find a cure, I will make a difference.
