I’m so proud to share that I raised £4,206 for Cardiac Risk in the Young in memory of my beautiful Mum, Nina Louise Buck, and I completed the London Marathon 2025!
Running the London Marathon was, without a doubt, one of the most powerful experiences of my life —physically demanding, emotionally overwhelming but deeply meaningful. I did it all to honour my Mum, whose unwavering strength and love continue to guide me every day. Eight months ago, I couldn’t even run a mile, so the fact that I ran 26.2 miles is hard to believe! After 33 weeks of training, with my family supporting me through every step, I made it to the finish line.
The training was no walk in the park—there were days when I dreaded every step and even cried through some of the runs. Balancing two jobs, wedding planning, and work courses made it even harder, but I kept showing up. Through rain, wind, or sunshine, because I wasn’t just running for me—I was running for my Mum.
On race day, I wasn’t focused on hitting a specific time, but as the weeks went on, I set a goal to finish under five hours. The heat (24°C!) made that tough, and after mile 10, I saw so many people struggling, so I decided to stop stressing about the time and just focus on crossing that finish line in one piece. I promised myself I wouldn’t stop or walk, and I kept that promise, finishing in 5 hours and 15 minutes. I still can’t believe my legs carried me that far!
Even when the pain was intense and I wanted to give up, I kept reminding myself why I was doing this—for my Mum, who isn’t here to cheer me on. The support from my family and all the strangers along the route was incredible. I saw my family five times during the race, and each time, it was so tempting to stop and hug them, but I knew if I did, I wouldn’t start again. The love I felt from my support crew I will never forget. When I crossed that finish line, I pointed to the picture of my mum on my running vest—it was one of the most emotional moments of my life.
This whole journey has made me face a lot of self-doubt. I’m a big worrier, and the nerves before the race were through the roof. But crossing that finish line reminded me that if I set my mind to something, I can do it.
So lastly a huge thank you to EVERYONE who has been a part of this incredible journey with me. You’ve helped me achieve something I never thought possible, all in memory of my Mum and to make a real difference. I’ll forever be grateful to those who showed up to support me — whether it was through donations, gifts, messages, running alongside me, or simply being there when I needed you. I’ll never forget it, a memory I will always carry with me.
