On Sunday, I took on the biggest challenge of my life, and fulfilled a lifelong dream of running the London Marathon.

I’ve spent months training for this moment, fitting in countless lunchtime runs from the office. I feel incredibly lucky to work somewhere that supports me in doing this, allowing me to fit training around everything else life throws at me.

Nothing could have prepared me for what London was like on the day. The sheer volume of people was overwhelming in the best possible way. Thousands of runners from all over the world, each taking on their own personal challenge for causes close to their hearts. It’s a pretty special thing to be part of.

The first half of the race went exactly how I’d hoped. I settled into a fairly comfortable pace and really enjoyed it and particularly loved running over Tower Bridge, which was a definite highlight. The atmosphere there was completely unrivalled and was just how I imagined.

One of the most emotional parts of the day was seeing my two children at miles 15 and 18, cheering me on. Knowing they were there, watching, and seeing me take on something so big meant everything. Hearing them talk since about wanting to run and take on their own challenges has made the whole experience feel even more worthwhile. That, more than anything, will stay with me.

After that, things got tough. Running through Canary Wharf was particularly difficult. I hit the wall pretty hard. The heat started to feel overwhelming, the crowds became harder to navigate, and I lost my pace. Every step took more effort than the last, and I really had to dig deep to keep going.

The support from the crowd carried me through those moments. Complete strangers shouting my name, offering encouragement, lifting me when I needed it most. It genuinely brought me to tears at times but also gave me the push I needed to keep moving forward.

The final stretch was a real test. With around two miles to go, it became a mental battle more than anything else. I kept telling myself I was nearly there, just one foot in front of the other. By the time I reached the Mall, everything felt like a blur. I’d dug so deep that I almost didn’t even realise I’d crossed the finish line.

And then it hit me. I burst into tears and sobbed to the volunteer who handed me my medal. I was completely overwhelmed, exhausted, and proud all at once.

In my role at Edukid, I spend a lot of time supporting our incredible network of remote volunteers who organise fundraising events across the UK (and even globally) to support education programmes in Uganda, Cambodia and Peru. Taking on the marathon myself felt like a small way of standing alongside them and doing my part too.

I’m so proud to have been able to raise an incredible amount money for Edukid while also achieving something that’s meant so much to me personally. I am so grateful for all the incredible support I received from family and friends.

I knew this would be hard, but I didn’t anticipate just how much it would challenge me, both physically and mentally. Immediately afterwards, I said I would never do anything like it again… but I’ve already caught myself back in the office hinting that maybe, just maybe, I’d do another one someday.