Martin Davidson

In honour of my Dad, my Gran and my Uncle Jim.

My dad passed away in 2022 from Pulmonary Fibrosis. His last couple of years were incredibly tough, but the support and guidance he received from Asthma + Lung UK made a real difference. The treatments that helped him simply wouldn’t exist without the research this charity funds.

My gran sadly died from lung cancer, and my Uncle Jim passed away from pneumonia — both lung-related conditions that have affected my family deeply and make me even more motivated to run for this cause.

The year after my dad died, my mum sent me a link to the Asthma + Lung UK “100 Miles in March” challenge — knowing I was always out running. I signed up, completed the miles, raised a bit of money, and discovered just how important this cause really is (even if my knee didn’t fully approve!).

I’ve always wanted to run a marathon, and I knew I wanted to raise more and honour my family in a bigger way. So this year I applied for a London Marathon place with Asthma + Lung UK… and here we are.

Breathing is something most of us take for granted — until it becomes difficult. Running reminds me how vital healthy lungs are, and every mile depends on being able to breathe freely. Many people don’t have that basic ability, which is why running this marathon for a lung-health charity feels especially meaningful.

Every minute, someone in the UK is diagnosed with a lung condition. Asthma + Lung UK is the only UK charity fighting for everyone’s right to breathe. Every pound raised helps fund vital research, support services, and life-saving advice. Just £22 allows one of their specialist nurses to answer a Helpline call — providing support that can literally save a life.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. I’d be hugely grateful for any donation you can make — big or small — and your support genuinely means a huge amount to me. 💙🏃‍♂️