My name is Holly King, I’m 22 and work at our family Business Kings Fine Food. For over 8 years now my family have supported a wonderful charity previously called The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, now called Carers Trust, whose President is HRH The Princess Royal and I have decided to don my running shoes and take part in the 2016 London Marathon to raise much needed funds for this charity.

Last year, my family was devastated when my darling dad John, collapsed on the golf course and was rushed to hospital, put into a coma and diagnosed with a life threatening tumour on his brain, we truly were so scared that we would lose him. After an operation to remove the majority of the tumour and subsequent Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy to reduce the mass which was left, dad I’m delighted to say is very much alive and building up his strength each day, however his treatment is ongoing and we as a family are pulling together to look after him and support him through the different rounds of treatments, which sadly leave him weak, tired and in much pain. My role in the family has changed dramatically since dad became ill, I’ve had to transition so quickly from being a daughter to a parent, providing emotional and practical support for Dad, Mum and my teenage brother Harry who at 17 years old needs much guidance and nurturing on his road to adulthood. Whilst we all find it hard to contemplate a normal life outside of the family home and our business, we know that we are lucky having a large network of family and friends to support us …. Many carers do not… they live in isolation, depraved of sleep and support, many in poverty due to not being able to work or access benefits, emotionally depressed and marginalised by society ….. they so desperately need our help.

My mum Laura, in 2014 led a team of 10 carers and supporters 510m up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise an incredible £30,000.00 for Carers Trust, and that she did with very dodgy knees so I have big boots to fill with my fundraising activities!

I do hope that you can understand why I’m giving up my social life, swapping my Louboutins for Adidas, hitting the tarmac not the dance floor, swapping pedicures for blister plasters… to train and participate in the London Marathon and raise cash for Carers Trust …. There’s an army of carers in all our communities that need help and support and with your sponsorship we can all make a difference. Thank you so much in anticipation of your kind and generous support.