The Paris Marathon will be my first marathon, and I want the challenge to have a purpose beyond personal achievement. Until a couple of years ago, I was a trustee of a medical charity working to improve surgical care in Africa, particularly Tanzania. Although work commitments meant I had to step down, supporting access to essential medical care remains important to me. The Red Cross’s extraordinary work providing emergency medical assistance and humanitarian relief to people affected by conflict, disasters and other crises around the world is something I greatly admire. Running for the Red Cross feels like a meaningful way to continue supporting a cause I care about, while giving me additional motivation to take on my first marathon.