Couple prepare to head to Florence for Marathon

“Yasmine was just three years old when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and began treatment at Kingston Hospital. At the time, support for children with cancer was far more limited. Seeing the need firsthand, Bianca who was working as a receptionist at the hospital, approached Alison and Jacqui with the idea of creating a charity to help fund vital equipment for Kingston Hospital. From that conversation, Momentum was born.

Yasmine and I have been together for around eight months, and in that time, I have got to know her parents, Ali and Dom. They have shared stories from the period when she was undergoing treatment, sharing not only how tough those years were, but also how Yasmine was still able to bring a positive mindset to her ongoing treatment. Something she still carries this with her to this day, which truly amazes me.

Yasmine spent two and a half years receiving what her parents describe as the best care they could have hoped for from the NHS and the caregivers who supported them along the way. Hearing these stories has given me a much deeper understanding of what Yasmine and her family went through, and what it meant for them to spend so much time in hospital.

Through Yasmine, her inspirational parents, and her two lovely sisters, Jess and Elanor, I have really come to see just how important Momentum is for families going through childhood illness. It has been incredible to learn how the charity has grown and how many people it now helps.

Twenty-one years on, Alison keeps in close touch with Jacqui and Bianca, and Yasmine has stayed connected with some of the young people she met during her time at Kingston Hospital.

Training for the Florence Marathon has been tough both physically and mentally, but that is exactly why I wanted to do it. I wanted a challenge that truly tests my endurance and resilience. I’m fortunate enough to be healthy and to have a body that allows me to push myself in this way.

The routine of training has also helped my mental wellbeing, giving me structure and a clear focus. I am determined to do well, and I feel a real responsibility to see it through and reach my fundraising goal.

Before starting marathon training, the longest I had ever run was a half marathon, so the jump to longer distances has been challenging, especially with ongoing shin splint issues along the way, however this has made me even more determined to get the job done on the day.

I chose the Florence Marathon because I wanted to run somewhere beautiful, and Yasmine and I are turning it into a holiday afterwards. Finishing a marathon in Italy is going to feel truly special and the break afterwards will make it more worthwhile.

I hope that by fundraising for Momentum, I can help them support even more families. Knowing that every pound goes towards something genuinely meaningful means so much, and I am determined to hit my £1,500 target. My friends and family have already been incredibly generous, but if anyone else would like to give me a little extra push, I would be so grateful. Every donation, no matter the amount, helps Momentum continue its incredible work for children facing serious illness.”

Wishing Will the best of luck as he takes on the Florence marathon. If you would like to support him and help him reach his fundraising target, you can do so here