I’m running the London Marathon 2026 to fight for everyone affected by a lung condition!
Every minute, someone in the UK is diagnosed with a lung condition. I want to make a difference. I'm running the London Marathon 2026 for Asthma + Lung UK, the only UK charity that fights for everyone’s right to breathe.
In the UK, respiratory care simply isn't good enough.
Even before Covid-19, NHS hospital admissions for lung conditions were rising three times faster than the average admissions.
Lung disease is now the third most common cause of death, costing the NHS more than £9billion every year. So this issue needs to be at the top of the health agenda.
People living with lung conditions are often overlooked and left behind. Their condition isn't accurately diagnosed at an early stage - and even when they are diagnosed, they're not given the care they need.
My lovely Dad first complained of feeling breathless in October 2022. Being a nurse the first thing I did was send him to see a doctor. He was diagnosed with a chest infection after chest infection. His breathing deteriorated rapidly over the course of the next 12 months and he had multiple hospital admissions. Each time he was told it was possibly related to COPD or post Covid-19 infection. But this did not explain underlying lung damage that was occurring. It was only after diagnostic bronchoscopy 12 months after his original symptoms started that Dad was diagnosed with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) which causes lung disease. Most people who breathe in or swallow these germs don't get sick but some pre-existing conditions can make some people more susceptible to developing a slow-growing infection which can be difficult to treat if detected late.
By the time Dad commenced the correct treatment his lung function was 21% and he needed oxygen at home. He was too weak to fight the disease and died two days before my 40th birthday.
I'd be very grateful for any donations you could make! Any amount will help me get closer to my target and raise money for this amazing charity who help fund life-saving research and support vital services for everyone affected by a lung condition across the UK.
This is for you Dad xxx
