Daniel Goldhill

My Story

At 25 years old, I have femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and arthritis in both my hips. I have been told that I need a double hip replacement, but have been advised to delay surgery for as long as possible due to my young age. 

It is already disrupting my life in various unforeseen ways. Simple things I never used to give a second thought now require adjustments just to be comfortable throughout the day. 

My biggest challenge was having to take a step back from playing rugby. It has always been a huge part of my life, but because of the increasing pain I had no choice but to stop playing. Although I now coach rugby and stay connected to the sport I love, losing the ability to play has been incredibly difficult.

Surprisingly, I have found that running doesn’t trigger the same pain flare-ups. Running has given me a renewed sense of purpose during a challenging time, and I know that my ability to do it won’t last forever. Before the day comes when I need both hips replaced, I want to make the most of every mile I can run.

Taking on the London Marathon would be my way of turning a difficult diagnosis into something positive. I want to raise awareness of the daily realities of living with arthritis at a young age, challenge the misconception that arthritis only affects older people, and inspire others facing similar challenges to keep moving in whatever way they can.

It is an honour to run as part of the Arthritis UK team. Every step I take would represent resilience, hope, and determination, while helping to raise vital funds to support research, services, and advocacy for the millions of people living with arthritis. Completing the London Marathon before my hip replacements would be an achievement I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page for my London Marathon! Over 10 million people in the UK live with arthritis, affecting their ability to work, study, care for family, move free from pain and live independently. But arthritis is still poorly understood and far too little is done. That’s why Arthritis UK funds life-changing research, supports those affected and campaigns for change. Arthritis UK won’t rest until everyone with arthritis has access to the treatments and support they need to live the life they choose, with real hope of a cure in the future.