My Story

On 4th October, I’ll be running back in my hometown for the Cardiff Half Marathon in support of the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation, in memory of my best friend of nearly 20 years, Jessica Brookes.

On 9th August, Jess passed away very suddenly due to ketoacidosis, a serious complication linked to her Type 1 diabetes. She was 31 years old, with so much life still ahead of her.

Jess took incredible care in managing her diabetes. Whether that meant using me as a trusted taste tester to make sure she’d actually been given Diet Coke on a night out (you wouldn't believe the number of bar staff who ignored this and gave her regular), or double checking she’d taken her insulin after long, exhausting days walking the parks in Florida. 

You always think there’s more time. More time to say things, more trips to plan, more memories to make. Losing Jess was a painful reminder that time is never guaranteed. I miss her every single day, but she will never be forgotten.

Jess leaves behind her parents, Mandy and Richie, her sister Rachel, and her son Logan. Her family had already endured an unimaginable loss 20 years earlier, losing Jess’s sister Ally. If this fundraising contributes even the smallest fraction towards preventing another family from experiencing this kind of heartbreak, then running 13.1 miles is a very small price to pay.

Any donation, no matter how small is appreciated.

I’m running in memory of Jess 💙