In just under four weeks, I’ll be running the 2026 Tokyo Marathon in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities Japan - the culmination of months of private sacrifice, shaped by the quiet demands of training.

What once started as a small, whispered pipe dream I shared with my fiancé, Jack - one I wasn’t sure I had any right to believe in - slowly turned into reality. He listened, believed, and supported me in a way that transformed my quiet hope into something courageous and tangible. Jack, my biggest supporter, supported me so hard he accidentally ran a major marathon. And then another. And Tokyo will now mark our third World Marathon Major together.

What makes this race especially meaningful for our family is that Jack’s mom, Deirdre (68), will also be running and will be completing her Six Star journey. Deirdre completed five World Marathon Majors - Boston (1999), New York (2007), Chicago (2008), London (2009), and Berlin (2009) - before Tokyo was introduced as the sixth star. In recent years, she’s witnessed Jack and me go through the highs and lows of marathon training together, a process that mirrors life in so many ways. Being able to run in Tokyo alongside her children, who are now embarking on their own Six Star journeys decades after her own, feels incredibly special.

To secure my Tokyo Marathon bib, I pledged ¥351,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities Japan, a donation I paid in full in July 2025. RMHC Japan, like its counterparts here in Canada, provides housing and support for families whose children are receiving medical care far from home, helping keep families close during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. It’s support that goes beyond housing - it’s stability, comfort, and a sense of normalcy when everything else feels uncertain.

This charity holds personal meaning for our family and particularly through Jack’s work with McDonald’s Canada and his experience volunteering with Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon.

I’m looking for $25 per kilometre - or $25 from 42.195 people - to share the impact of the cause and invite others to be part of the journey.

Thank you for your support,

Diana