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Alexander Evley

Royal Parks Half Marathon

Donate to Alexander and help them hit their goal of £400!

I'm fundraising for...

Doctors told me I was too young for arthritis. My joints disagreed. So, apparently, does the 2.8 million-strong club of under-35s living with it.

It's not just something that happens to older people, it's just rarely talked about in younger ones. For years, that "too young" line was used to explain away my symptoms, my pain, and even my test results. So I spent years with stiff, painful joints and no real explanation, just guesswork and ibuprofen.

It wasn't only physical either. Not knowing what was wrong with your own body for that long takes a toll on your mental health that's hard to explain unless you've lived it.

An old friend, who also lives with arthritis, eventually pointed me towards Arthritis UK. It was a genuine turning point: finally a community that believed me, supported me, and helped me understand what my body was actually doing. With their guidance I've slowly gotten back on my feet and into running, which has done as much for my head as it has for my joints.

Arthritis UK currently funds over 250 live research studies into better treatment and earlier diagnosis, working alongside bodies like the NIHR, so donations go directly towards making sure fewer people spend years being dismissed the way I was.

So in October I'll be running 13.1 miles around some very nice London parks, and I'd love your support, however small.

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

£159 + £35.30 GiftAid

My Goal

£400

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My Achievements

My Updates

A small pause

Tuesday 14th Jul
I've had to take a very small break in my training due to a calf injury last week on one of my runs. It was an embarrassing moment of having to call my mum out to pick me up as I genuinely couldn't walk home. 

Although it is slowly getting better, I don't dare run on it until it stops hurting when I walk on it. But I'm not letting this get in the way or get me down. I'm still as motivated as every to get up and get on with it and I'm working much harder on stretching and physio and hydration to ensure this doesn't happen again!

What On Earth Have I Done Now?!

Friday 20th Mar
I’ve officially signed up to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Arthritis UK. 

The last few months haven’t exactly been kind to me health-wise. It’s been a bit of a slog, physically and mentally, and I’ve definitely fallen out of rhythm with things that used to keep me grounded. Running used to be one of those things. It cleared my head, kept me steady, and for a while there, I wasn’t actually half bad at it either.

So this is me, attempting to claw that back.

I live with osteoarthritis in my knee, which means running isn’t always straightforward. Some days it’s fine, other days it feels like my joint has filed a formal complaint and gone on strike. But I’m determined to give this a proper go, not just for the finish line, but for what it represents, getting back on my feet, proving to myself that I still can, and doing something positive with a condition that can otherwise feel pretty limiting.

I’m running in support of Arthritis UK, a charity that funds research, supports people living with arthritis, and generally does the kind of work that people like me directly benefit from. So it felt like the obvious choice, even if my knee didn’t get a vote.

If you’re able to donate, I’d massively appreciate it. My target is £400, which feels doable with the right support (and possibly some bribery via social media updates). Every contribution, big or small, genuinely makes a difference and helps keep me accountable when I’d much rather be horizontal.

And if donating isn’t your thing, cheering me on, sharing the page, or just reminding me I signed up for this when I start questioning my life choices at mile 9 is equally appreciated.

Thank you so much for the support, it really does mean a lot.

Thank you to my Sponsors

£33.15

Victoria Evans

£29.15

David

WOO!! This is a huge step for you, after suffering for so long, to be getting back on that horse and trying again. GO YOU! SO PROUD ❤️

£27

Dan & Lisa

Good Luck Alex!

£22.80

Marie O’shea

What an inspiration you are. Go you. I got diagnosed at 25 with osteoarthritis and some days, like yourself, are painful and difficult. I wish you the very best of luck with training and the actual run. Much love, Marie

£20

The Thum Family

£15

Anonymous

£12.25

Paul Ashley

You’ve got this Alex. Love Dad and Sarah. X