My inspiration to run the London Marathon is my wife

I'm Iyanka, I'm 42, and I live in Dartford. My family and I love running, and we try to get out two or three times a week. I've applied for the London Marathon eight years in a row, and I'm finally taking on the challenge with the amazing Asthma + Lung UK.

My inspiration to run the London Marathon is my wife. Two years ago, she experienced respiratory failure and lost 80% of her lung functionality. She spent 6 weeks in hospital, 3 of those in intensive care. Thanks to the dedicated teams at St Thomas’s Hospital and Darent Valley Hospital, she has since made a full recovery. However, it took much longer than we expected to arrive at the right diagnosis so she could be given the best possible treatment.

Eventually, she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder known as anti-synthetase syndrome—something even her GP hadn't heard of before. Had the diagnosis come earlier, I believe she may have received the appropriate treatment sooner and recovered quicker.

I'm hoping the money I raise will help people affected by lung conditions get the diagnoses they need sooner. What’s been incredible and inspiring to me is meeting so many people through the charity who, despite having asthma and other lung conditions, have signed up for marathons, engaged in remarkable training, and are living inspiring lives.

I'm really excited for marathon day, although the nerves are starting to kick in, being my first marathon. It's for a great cause, and I've received fantastic support throughout this training journey.