Diane & Rachel take on London Landmarks Half Marathon 2026

Diane and her daughter Rachel took on the London Landmarks Half Marathon in support of Immunodeficiency UK, raising over £1,900. The 13-mile route passes iconic sights like Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London. 

Like many in the immunodeficiency community, their condition brings frequent illness, slow recovery, and lasting damage from repeated infections. Despite this, Diane and Rachel stay active, using exercise to help manage their health.

Running the half marathon was both a personal challenge and a way to give back, raise awareness and support others. Immunodeficiency UK has been a vital source of support, information and advocacy for them.

Rachel says: “I was diagnosed with specific antibody deficiency (IgG2 and IgA) at the age of 7 at Great Ormond Street. I started immunoglobulin infusions, which transformed my health and helped me catch up physically, socially, and academically. I remained on the infusions for 24 years until March 2025, when the immunology team at the Royal Free suggested a trial period without infusions due to an increase in my immunoglobulin levels, which had been helped by a healthy lifestyle.

Nearly a year on, aside from one serious chest infection in December, I have managed well. I am able to work a full-time job in mental health and continue to keep up with regular exercise alongside this, as well as having an active social life. 

This has all been made possible by lifesaving immunoglobulin therapy and the exceptional healthcare support I have received. I am very grateful for this and wanted to raise funds for Immunodeficiency UK to support other patients and hopefully to inspire other people to do the same. “

Diane says: “Rachel was my first child and when she ended up in hospital as a very young baby with a chest infection, so did I and after that I suffered badly from chest infections and the aftereffects 6 months of the year. Despite Rachel’s diagnosis of a primary immunodeficiency (PID), no one, including myself, thought to ask if I had a problem with my immune system. It took another 7 years for me to be tested and diagnosed.

We are both now under the Royal Free immunology team and with their help and regular exercise we are able to live an active life and take part in events such as the London Landmarks Half Marathon.

But we both have permanent lung damage from repeated infections which could have been prevented with earlier diagnosis, if the GPs and other medical professionals we saw had been aware of PID. I wanted to run the half marathon to support the work that Immunodeficiency UK does to raise awareness of PID and secondary immunodeficiency in the medical community to achieve earlier diagnosis and so better outcomes for patients.“ 

Thank you, Diane and Rachel.