In October 2026 I’ll be at the start line of the Dublin marathon, this is a first for me and I'm doing it to raise funds for 22q11 Ireland — a small charity that has helped our family massively. Our son, Rufus, was born with 22q11 deletion syndrome, often shortened to 22q. It is a genetic condition caused by a small missing section of chromosome 22. Although the deletion is small, its effects can be severe, wide-ranging and different for every person. 22q affects the heart, immune system, feeding, speech, physical development, learning and mental health - meaning that children and adults with 22q usually need support from many different medical and developmental specialists throughout their lives. The condition is not very visible, but it is complex, relatively poorly understood, and not easy to find support. For my family, 22q11 Ireland's work has been so valuable. Through the charity, we have met families who understand the challenges, learned from their experiences and felt part of a community rather than having to navigate everything alone. 22q11 Ireland play a vital role in supporting the dedicated 22q clinic at Children’s Health Ireland in Crumlin. The clinic coordinates the many areas of care children with 22q can require. For our family, that knowledgeable, joined-up support has been a lifeline. I am deeply grateful for everything 22q11 Ireland has done for Rufus, for us and for so many other families. Running the Dublin Marathon is my opportunity to fundraise and contribute to the charity's work supporting families, connecting the 22q community and advocating for better lifelong care for people impacted. Every single donation, however large or small, will help 22q11 Ireland deliver for the wonderful 22q community. Thank you!