Running for Ollie - London Marathon 2025

On Sunday, 27th April, I’ll be running the London Marathon for a very special cause that’s incredibly close to my heart and home — our nephew, Ollie.

As many of you know, in August last year, Ollie came home from kindy sick with a flu, something we learned later was Influenza A. Within hours, his condition became more severe, with him suffering seizures before falling into a coma. After being airlifted to the intensive care unit at the Brisbane Children’s Hospital, he was diagnosed with Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy of Childhood (ANEC), a rare and serious condition affecting his brain. Tragically, this illness has impacted the parts of his brain responsible for motor skills and speech, changing Ollie’s life and that of his parents, Dan and Nicole, forever.

Five months on, Ollie is still in rehabilitation in hospital, but he’ll soon be able to start a new chapter at home. And I say “new” because life for Ollie and his family looks very different now. In addition to relocating to a home that will suit Ollie’s needs, Dan and Nicole are navigating the overwhelming world of medical expenses, therapies, and ongoing care. The costs are mounting — and that’s where I want to help.

My goal is to raise funds to support Ollie’s future and ease some of the financial burden on his Mum and Dad. If you can, please consider sponsoring me in my marathon journey via this page.

For those who don’t know, the London Marathon takes place on Sunday, 27th April. I’ll be running 42.2km (26.2 miles), starting in Greenwich, through the heart of London, crossing the iconic Tower Bridge, and finishing with the unforgettable stretch past Buckingham Palace and down The Mall.

Just to clarify, my marathon place is not a charity spot, so there’s no fundraising target tied to it. All my costs, including the race entry and travel, are covered personally. But I wanted to turn this into something meaningful — for Ollie, and to help make a difference.

Training is going well — I’m currently in Week 8. I’ve been putting in the miles, even braving an early morning run in -20°C in Lapland over Christmas (that was a unique experience!).

But the real hard work begins now, as the training intensifies, both physically and mentally. Alongside running, I’m focused on strength training and nutrition to get my body ready for the marathon ahead. Now feels like the perfect time to launch Running for Ollie.

Many of you have already so generously donated to Ollie’s GoFundMe, and we’re beyond grateful for your support. If you’re able to contribute to Running for Ollie, no matter how big or small, it would mean the world to me, to Ollie and our family.

Thank you in advance for your kindness. I’ll be posting regular updates about my training on Facebook and Instagram as we get closer to race day.

Wish me luck!

Cheers,

Pete