A woman from Northolt is running the London Marathon this weekend to raise money for the charity that helped her during the toughest time of her life.
Leah, now 31, had her wish to swim with dolphins granted by Make-A-Wish UK back in 2011. The experience brought joy and healing to her family during a difficult period, and now she wants to give back.
Leah said: “The experience was completely magical. I remember looking around at my family and thinking ‘We have never been, and never will be, happier’. I knew if anything was to ever happen to me, these memories we were creating, were going to be the ones to make them all smile. I felt like I had won the life lottery and for the first time in a long time, I felt lucky.”
Leah was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when she was just a few days old, after undergoing emergency surgery to remove part of her bowel. Doctors told her family that the condition was incurable and that she might only live to 30.
Her childhood was far from normal. While other children played outside, Leah was attending hospital appointments, doing physiotherapy, and taking medication. But despite everything, she stayed positive.
“Growing up being told you weren’t going to grow old and grey by medical professionals gave me fire in my belly. I was always parented with the words, ‘there is no such word as can’t’ and ‘laughter is the best medicine’. I always felt blessed, as none of us truly know how long we have on this earth.” – Leah.
She was inspired to make a wish after seeing other children in hospital have their wishes granted. Her love for animals led her to choose to swim with dolphins.
Since then, Leah’s condition has improved thanks to medical advances. She is now married with two children and able to run—something she never thought would be possible.
In 2025, she is taking on the London Marathon for Make-A-Wish UK, joining 260 runners aiming to raise £650,000 to help grant more wishes for children with critical illnesses.
“Children need a wish to ‘check out’ and to not be the ‘sick kid’ for a little while. To just be consumed and surrounded by fun and smiles, away from hospital walls, needles, and treatments. To be gifted a piece of childhood that the sickness had taken away. It’s not just important for the child, but the family and siblings too. Illness and sickness affect the whole household, not just the wish child.
“To everyone who has ever supported, donated and helped Make-A-Wish UK, thank you. Without you, so many deserving children wouldn’t experience the magic of their wishes come true.” – Leah.
Liz Turner, Head of Community and Volunteering at Make-A-Wish UK, said: “Wishes have the power to rescue the magic of childhood and provide an invaluable lifeline to escape the relentless challenges and gruelling reality of a life defined by their illness. Seeing Leah thriving and taking on new challenges is truly inspiring. Her journey is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact a wish can have — bringing hope, joy, and strength for the future. We’re incredibly grateful to all the amazing 2025 London Marathon runners fundraising for Make-A-Wish UK. Your support means the world to us, and it’s what helps make more wishes like Leah’s come true.”
To support Leah and help grant more wishes, you can donate via the Make-A-Wish UK website. To sign up for the 2026 London Marathon and run for the charity, visit make-a-wish.org.uk.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
Harrow Online reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month and has a social media audience of more than 200,000 followers.
For news tips, press releases or enquiries, contact Chris at info@harrowonline.org.
