⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Six Stars for me and my Dad ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

On Sunday March 3rd 2024, I will be running the Tokyo Marathon for Parkinson’s UK on behalf of my Dad whilst it also being the final race of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series for me to complete the set and become a Six-Star Finisher.

Parkinson’s does still not have a cure. With over 40 different symptoms, it is now becoming even more common in younger people. It varies so much from person to person, everyone’s experience living with it is different.

Around 2 years ago, my incredible Dad got diagnosed with Parkinson’s and as its has progressed, has now gone onto a more advanced stage and an extended diagnosis of Lewy bodies dementia. As a Doctor himself, my Dad has spent his whole life caring for patients in the UK as a consultant in general medicine.

It has been very hard to watch my Dad over the past year and to see what he is going through and the effects it has had on him most importantly but also on us as a family but we are with him every step of the way. As a keen runner himself, my Dad loves going out every Sunday for his weekly run a familiar face around the community in South Liverpool.

Parkinson’s UK are determined to find a cure by funding the right research into the most promising treatments. Research takes time but if you have Parkinson’s, you need better treatment now. The funds you donate will be used for Parkinson's UK where the need is greatest.

I have run for most of my life, starting at school especially with track and cross country. I never ever considered doing a marathon but the more I watched the London Marathon on television, the more I thought how good it looked. I applied year after year hoping I would not get selected, being thankful when I received the commiserations magazine through the post. That all changed at the end of 2017, when I received a magazine saying I had secured a spot in the 2018 London Marathon.

After completing my first ever marathon in 2018, it was one of the hardest things I had ever done but equally something I loved. The camaraderie, the atmosphere.. it was unforgettable. Later on that year, I heard about the World Marathon Majors, a renowned series that consists of the six biggest marathons in the world:

Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago & New York

You complete all six, then you become a six star finisher and earn the six star medal!

“No chance” I thought as I remember reading about it. The destinations, the travel, the training, the money. But here we are. All have had there challenges especially even getting into the races itself! But I am now one race away from a small dream that started 6 years ago turning into reality! I want to combine my own personal journey and goal whilst helping a cause close to my heart now due to my Dad's condition. This race will be for him!

I will be extremely grateful for any support you can give during my training cycle to get me ready for Tokyo and to raise awareness and important funds for this horrible illness. For my Dad, for any person going through it currently and for anyone that will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the future. Let’s change attitudes and find a cure.