​​​​When I moved to London seven years ago, I never imagined that one of the things I would be most grateful for would be the proximity to the best children’s hospitals in the country. Unfortunately, that all changed in July 2024, when my 18-month-old son suddenly became seriously ill.

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By November, he was diagnosed with a rare metabolic condition that affects his liver’s ability to regulate blood sugar.​ Over the past year, although staying on hospital wards has been difficult personally, speaking to different parents on the ward it's hard not to recognise that our situation isn't special or unique by any stretch of the imagination. Every day children and their parents across the UK receive life-changing diagnoses, and it's these conversations inspired me to try to do something, literally anything, to help.

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Initially, my instinct was to launch something big. I launched "The Pally Pally" back in May 2025, which was supposed to be a half marathon race between teams from North & South London. The response was incredible, with 85 people signing up immediately.

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However, the reality of turning a heartfelt idea into a safe, city-wide event was hugely challenging. The logistical hurdles were significant, and I realised that I could not responsibly tackle organising the full event this year alone.

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