I’m running the London Marathon 2025 to fight for lung health!
After 9 years of trying without any luck, I am delighted to finally earn a place in the London Marathon for 2025! It has been an absolute dream of mine to one day attempt this iconic 26.2 mile (42km) run in my hometown, and I can’t wait to get going. I will be running for Asthma + Lung UK, the only UK charity that fights for everyone’s right to breathe.
As some of you might know, in May 2023, my wife Jayathri suffered acute respiratory failure where her lungs failed and deteriorated at an alarming pace, losing nearly 90% of her lung functionality. She spent 6 weeks in hospital, 3 of those in intensive care, where she was put on a ventilator and was in a critical, life threating condition.
Thanks to the brilliant teams at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford and St Thomas Hospital in London, she has since made a wonderful recovery with the help of 6 cycles of chemotherapy and controlled medication. During her hospital stay, she was diagnosed with a condition known as antisynthetase syndrome (AS) which is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory myopathy, arthritis, fever, and interstitial lung disease (ILD).
Every minute, someone in the UK is diagnosed with a lung condition. I want to make a difference in helping others like Jayathri and their families fight similar illnesses. Every pound I'm able to raise will take us a step closer to a world where everyone has healthy lungs.
Just £22 allows one of Asthma + Lung UK's nurses to answer a call on the Helpline, offering potentially lifesaving advice. I'd be very grateful for any donations you could make, even if means sharing this page with someone who might want to help. Thank you!
Thank you to my Sponsors
£22
Chaminda Goonetilleke
£22
Eranga Colombage
£52.50
Steve
Amazing achievement dude! All your hard work paid off l don’t think you broke a sweat! And what a great cause! From Holly Steve and the boys!
£23.10
Lal And Police
£15
Aqeel & Hasna
Run Yankee Run!
£50
Bimalka L
One last push here, just like the shouting I expect to do to make you run that extra mile on Sunday!
£23.10
Diana Devine
Good Luck
£22
Anonymous
£15
Hasi
Duwapan Mareeeyy!!!
£20
Nabihah & Hafiz
All the best Yankee. You will no doubt smash it!
£50
David Carrington
Good luck from Olly, Seb, Nicki & David!
£15.75
Anonymous
£15.75
Lara Wilkes
Well done!
£10.50
Jasmine Hardie
Good luck! You’re going to smash it!
£80
Haze & Kus
Good luck Yankee! So proud of you!
£40
Hannah, Shaun & The Boys
Well done neighbourino. Wishing you loads of luck & a wonderful marathon. Props to Lily for the video!
£23.10
Hadda And Co
All the best muchan. Amazing stuff.
£5
Amanda Jones
What a great idea to make loom bands Lily! We will take 2 to support your Dad! Love Alexia and Avia x
£100
Rocket Saas
Good luck Iyanka! Love from Ryan and the Rocket SaaS team
£10
Grandstand
Grandstand
£21
Sam @ Requira
All the best with the training Iyanka!
£22
Jonathan
Good luck mate - impressive!!
£23.10
Rosie Mcandrew
Go for it Iyanka, proud of you. You got this. Rosie, Nik and Miles cheering you on from Yorkshire xxxxx
£40
Mark Galbraith
Wishing you a fantastic marathon.
£40
Nimesha Fernando
So proud of you Ayia! Good luck, you got this!!
£5
Anonymous
Good luck Iyanka!
£30
Mike Parker
Good luck Iyanka and a great cause 👍
£21
Sash
Good luck :)
£20
Coralie
All the best!
£20
Len (number 63)
Good luck!
£40
Richard Lauren Molly And Cooper
Good luck mate!!
£42
Anushka De Alwis
You are an inspiration Yankee. Good luck, we’ll be cheering you on all the way. Shaminda, Anushka and Aanya x
£10
Martin
Good luck Iyanka!
£15.75
Albany Rose Virgo
You’re the best <3 go smash it!!!
£15.75
Shiama Balendra
What an inspiration!! Great cause. So proud of you.
£30
Farhan Zahir
All the best Champ !
£30
Harinder Howarth
Well done Iyanka for not giving up and finally having the opportunity to run the London marathon. Good luck and I know you’ve got this.
£5.25
Robert Kistnen
Good luck mate
£10.50
Colin Stevenson
Good luck, hope the training goes well.
£50
Roshani Liyanarachi
Good Luck Pankee! We’ll be there on the big day 😍
£40
Amanda And Sam Jones
£50
Kate Shoesmith
Go for it, Iyanka! And best of luck to Jay in getting you marathon ready!
£42
Manik
What you're doing is pretty amazing! So proud of you Yanki.. Good luck on reaching you're goal!
£21
Miyuru Liyanarachchi
Great stuff.. cheers to the hard work you r putting in ..
£40
Zainudeen Family
Incredible story, amazing cause, persevered and finally got in, go smash it champ!! Wishing you all the very best, Best wishes from Nafisah, Sarah, Hannah and Afzal
£31.50
Garry, Jamie & Hudson
Great cause, Fantastic to support you. Garry, Jamie and Hudson… Keep up the great training!
£60
Annette
Go for it!
£46.20
Anonymous
Great cause - hope Jay doing well!
£40
Afiya, Marjolein & Dhilhan
Train hard and all the best!
£23.10
Anne-marie Herron
Jay is such an inspiration, such a great cause you are running for, best of luck! X
£52.50
Sherveen, Saba And The Boys
Good luck bro! You got this! Run yankee Run!
£22
Niall Moran
Hey Iyanka, just read your post on LinkedIn. I wasn’t aware of any of this! Sounds like a very rough time, glad to hear Jayathri came out of it well. Best of luck with the marathon mate!
£5.25
Helly Lane
Good luck!
£5
Veronica Brooks
Team Breathe Giving Day
£40
Anonymous
£22
Stuart O’neill
You can do it Iyanka! Lots of love Stuart, Gill & Wilf x
£15
Jenny Roberts
You’re amazing! Go smash that marathon! Love Jen, Chris & George x
£22
Kay
Rooting for you , definitely a great and nobel cause.
£78.75
Paul Spicer
Best of luck. We will come and cheer you along!
£10
Anonymous
Good luck!
£22
Kimi K
Good luck Iyanka 🏃♂️
£15.75
Ellen O'neill
Good luck!
£15.75
Carly T
£22
Suzana Kalcic
So inspiring!!! Wishing you the best of luck!!!
£31.50
Sammy Fernando
£30
Rukaiya
Jay is an inspiration! Good luck Yankee. You’ve got this x
£105
Shirini Samarasinghe
Amazing!!!! Wishing you and family good health and happiness, and all good blessings!
£46.20
Pauline Mcnulty
Go Iyanka - sure you’ll smash it for this incredible cause and bring a lot of joy to everyone you meet on the way!
£42
Tina Bunting
£50
Jayathri Kariyawasam
20 years on, thank you for sticking through in good times and bad times :) You've got this X
£42
Maria Carradice
Remember - every mile is a victory and brings you closer to the finish line. You can do it!
£100
Bertie Aykroyd
Well done Iyanka - a fantastic cause!
£10
Jos Surla
Good luck Iyanka!
£10.50
Claudis Lee
Good luck!! Xxx
£50
Nick Keegan
Good luck!
Well done machang! Apologies this is late, but hopefully will be useful towards your goal.