Running for a Brighter Future

Meet Lucy from Fife, Scotland. She is running the London Marathon 2026 on 26^th April for Anaphylaxis UK. 

Driven by her 10-year-old son Jack and husband Graeme, both at risk of anaphylaxis, Lucy has been training hard in Fife in all weathers for the big day on Sunday. Since their diagnoses, the family has been learning and navigating living with serious allergies while trying to lead a normal, inclusive life. 

We reached out to Lucy to talk about the upcoming marathon and her way of dealing with the hidden battles with allergies.  

Hi, Lucy! Why did you decide to run the London Marathon and why for Anaphylaxis UK?  

Running a marathon has been on my bucket list for a while. After completing a few half marathons, I thought, “What is a better place to do it than London?”. Choosing to run for Anaphylaxis UK was simple. The charity is very close to my heart, as both my son and my husband have been diagnosed with anaphylaxis in recent years. 

How have Jack and Graeme supported you on your marathon journey? 

They’ve been amazing. They’ve listened to my worries, supported me when I’ve been struggling, and even joined in with the carb-loading ahead of long training runs! It’s been such a great experience going through all of this with them. The 3 of us involved in the fundraising, and they’ve been both understanding on the days when I have nothing to give after a long run. It’s going to be very emotional on marathon day, but absolutely worth it! 

Let’s talk about the diagnosis and what it means mentally. What does living with serious allergies look like day-to-day for your family? 

It can feel like a constant battle, apologising for what feels like being awkward, label checking, scanning public areas for risk, missing out on treats, over-avoidance just to keep safe. The hidden strains and emotions dealing with all of that can take its toll.   

What are the biggest challenges your family face? 

Living with serious allergies doesn’t stop us going on holiday, but it does come with more planning. For example, we check airline allergy policies in advance, request airlines of allergy announcements, and dread the potential moans from passengers who are advised not eat nuts on the plane. 

The same with restaurants both home and abroad. We always check menus in advance, advise about the allergies, gauge if we are taken seriously. Even with precautions like allergy translation cards, there’s always a risk of cross-contamination that we have to accept.  

At Jack’s school there is nut free policy, but the risks will increase significantly in high school where there are less protection, awareness and control. 

What specific resources or support from Anaphylaxis UK helped most? 

When Jack and Graeme were diagnosed, I found Anaphylaxis UK. I used their information to gain a wider understanding of allergies. Given we had no idea what anaphylaxis was before, they’ve educated us with this steep learning curve to help keep us safe. 

What would you say to other families navigating serious allergies? 

Find out as much as you can about the allergy and continue to advocate for your family to keep them safe. Don’t let it limit what you do, but be mindful of the risks in the different environments. Don’t apologise to others for the extra effort that needs to go into everyday life. Live confidently as you can in the hope that the allergy is taken as seriously as it is if a reaction was to occur.

Wishing you the very best of luck, Lucy, and huge thanks for your wonderful fundraising efforts! The 2026 London Marathon will take place on Sunday 26 April. Come and join us at the UK’s biggest and most iconic marathon! We would also love to see you running for Anaphylaxis UK. Take a look at our events calendar.