Viola Walsh

I’m running the London Marathon 2026 to fight for lung health!

Here I am, lacing up my trainers and taking on 26.2 miles for a cause that means everything to me.

In 2021, I lost my dad to a cruel lung condition called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. It’s a rare genetic illness that most people have never even heard of, yet it stole my dad’s breath, his strength, and eventually his life at just 66 years old. He also lived with COPD, asthma, and emphysema. Watching someone you love struggle for every breath changes you. It’s something you never forget.

Because Alpha-1 is genetic, I was tested too and discovered that I also have Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, along with my asthma. That moment hit me hard. Suddenly, the condition that had taken my dad wasn’t just a distant threat, it was part of me too.

But instead of letting fear take over, I made a choice.
I chose to live differently, to take care of my lungs, my body, and my mind.
And now, I’m choosing to run. For him, for myself, and for everyone fighting for air. 💙

Every mile I run will be for my dad, for the years he should have had, for the conversations we never got to finish, for the breath he could no longer take. He’ll be with me through every step of training, every tough run, every early morning when I question if I can do it. Because I know he’d be proud.

I’m running for this charity because they represent hope. Hope for earlier diagnosis, better treatments, more research, and support for families like mine who have lived through the heartbreak of lung disease.

I want to raise awareness. I want people to know that these conditions are real, serious, and devastating, and that more needs to be done.

And most of all, I want to be proof that even with a lung condition, you can still live, move, and achieve something extraordinary.

This marathon isn’t just a race. It’s a love letter to my dad and a promise to everyone living with a lung condition: you are not alone, and your breath matters.

If you’re able to support me by donating, sharing, or simply cheering me on, it would mean the world. Every step I take, every pound raised, will go towards helping others breathe a little easier.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart ❤️ 
Viola