I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to run the London Marathon in support of the Youth Sport Trust. Through my role in sports development, I have worked closely with the charity for many years and have seen firsthand the positive impact of their work. It is a cause I wholeheartedly believe in, and I was proud to raise money to support their vision of creating a future where every child can enjoy the life-changing benefits of play and sport.

I have always had a passion for running and, once upon a time, was a fairly decent runner. However, three years ago, I ruptured my Achilles tendon playing football. It was a serious injury and, following surgery, the rehabilitation process was long and challenging. My confidence in running took a real knock, and I worried that the impact of running might lead to another injury.

I knew I needed a goal, and a big one. I can honestly say that taking on the marathon for such an incredible charity gave me the motivation I needed. Throughout my training, I gradually felt fitter, stronger, and more confident, and I now run without the fear of re-injury. This experience has brought me back to running, and I’m now excited to start looking for my next challenge.