"I’ll be running every mile with her in my heart"

A bucket-list moment that’s close to my heart

I’ve always been into fitness. For me, life is about setting a goal and doing everything you can to achieve it. Completing a marathon is an incredible accomplishment for anyone. This is a real bucket-list moment for me - a chance to prove to myself that I can push my body to its limits and rise to the challenge. I felt absolutely ecstatic when I found out I’d got a place. Not only was I thrilled to be running my home race, taking in the glorious sights of London, but I was also incredibly proud to be representing Anthony Nolan at the same time.

My beloved sister, Riya Dandekar, sadly lost her life to Lymphoma. Riya was more than a sister to me - she was my friend, my role model, and a constant source of light and laughter. She inspired so many with her courage, her kindness, and her boundless energy. Anthony Nolan’s mission is simple yet powerful - to grow and diversify the world-leading UK stem cell register so that everyone has the best chance of finding the match they desperately need. This mission is especially close to my heart because Riya’s chance of finding a suitable stem cell donor was tragically low. In the UK, only around 37% of patients from minority ethnic backgrounds will find their best possible match. We can change this together.

Getting ready for the big day

Training has definitely been a journey, with plenty of highs and lows. I’ve been following a training plan, which tries to keep me on track. There have been many times when life has got in the way or motivation has been hard to find.

I’ve also been training with a run club and a few friends who are significantly faster and fitter than me. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been really positive being pushed out of my comfort zone. It’s helped me get fitter, faster, and build that mental resilience to keep going when things feel tough.

What keeps me going is reminding myself that this opportunity may never come again. You may never be as fit as you are right now, and you have this one chance to give it everything. I hate the thought of “what if?”, and that really drives me.

I often think about Riya - especially on my long runs. I think about everything she went through. I think about her smile, her kindness and strength and how she would have loved to do the London Marathon herself. This is what truly gets me through. She is always by my side, guiding me on this journey. If Riya was still with us today, I know - without a doubt - that she would have signed up to run the London Marathon with me. I’ll be running every mile with her in my heart - as if she’s running right beside me.

I’m feeling nervous, excited, thrilled and eager all at once. I know I’ll want to put in a strong performance, but I also want to keep reminding myself how lucky and grateful I am to be running in this beautiful city for such a wonderful cause. It’s going to be a beautiful day and I cannot wait for every single moment!

This run is for Riya

My personal goal is to complete the marathon in under 4 hours. Even though I can be focused on time - I must remember to embrace this journey and just enjoy every step whilst raising money for this incredible charity. It is truly a privilege and it is exactly what Riya would have wanted. Everyone’s support means the world to me and would have meant the world to Riya.

Even though she is no longer with us, I carry her with me in everything I do - especially through this journey. Knowing that this may help someone just like her, someone going through what she went through, means the world.

If this can make even the smallest difference to someone else’s life, then it means her strength, her story, and everything she went through continues to have a positive impact. That is incredibly special to me.

This run is for her — every step, every mile, all the way to the finish line.