London Marathon 2026

Well I never expected to be writing this again following the ending of my 2024 marathon but here we are. On the 26 April 2026 I will be running the TCS London Marathon but this time with my lovely sister in law Melanie.

As many of you know I was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2020 which resulted in me being fitted with an implantable cardiac defibrillator and pacemaker and being medicated for life. This condition has not only impacted me whilst I remain symptomatic but other family members including my youngest brother who died of sudden cardiac failure at the age of 3.

Over the course of 2025 particularly, I have suffered significant complications with my heart condition which has resulted in multiple operations and long stay hospital admissions so with that said you may question why on earth would I then go on to run another marathon which triggered my heart condition back in 2024.

Well I have two reasons the latter being the most important. Since battling from the beginning of the year with my health, this resulted in me loosing my identity along the way particularly as I was unable to exercise at all throughout this period something I have done all my life. The second reason and the main reason that affirmed my decision was when I received some devastating news in August that my very close friend was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Since 2020 I have made it my mission to raise money for charity turning my diagnosis into something positive and have raised in excess of 11k for various charities through participating in charity events and banging the drum. This time really is no different. Without supporting these important charities raising important funds and raising awareness of these conditions, change cannot and will not happen and better still young lives particularly cannot be saved. I was 27 when I was diagnosed with a life threatening heat condition, my brother sadly died at the young age of 3 of sudden cardiac failure and my friend only early 40s when diagnosed with breast cancer. There is no age that is to young and these diagnosis do not discriminate.

So with all that said, I feel honoured to have secured a place to run again in the most incredible fun raising event there is and to run run on behalf of Cardic Risk in The Young, a charity that sits very close to mine and my family’s hearts. But also just as honoured to be running on behalf of my friend for CoppaFeel who raise incredible funds for breast cancer.

The marathon will not be easy for me with restrictions I have around my heart condition and also remaining symptomatic, but I wouldn’t be the person I am and the person people best know me for if I didn’t defeat the odds and sign up to challenges like this. The bigger the challenge the more determined I am to complete it. Not for me but for the people who cannot.

All donations however big or small is going towards two a fantastic charities.

Lots of Love Deb x