Pip’s London Marathon

Hi, my name is Pip Vilday, and I will be taking part in the London Marathon in April 2023, raising money for Nerve Tumours UK.  

I am 25 years old and live in Kent. I was first diagnosed with NF1 when I was 5 years old. NF1 has left me with limited vision, due to tumours on my optic nerve. However, I try not to let this impact on my everyday life and try to be as independent as possible. 

Due to being diagnosed at such a young age, I had no idea what the condition was and the impact this would have on my life. 

I have yearly appointments now, at Guys Hospital, where I meet with my consultant, to see how I’ve been and how I’m coping with my NF1.

The reason I decided to run the London Marathon, is because my sister ran it last year, and the atmosphere was electric! I thought to myself that this is a fantastic thing to do, and would be a great achievement to complete.

I chose Nerve Tumours UK because I suffer from the condition, and we need to make Neurofibromatosis more noticeable, and the money raised would be going to such a great cause.

I think it’s important for me to run the London Marathon because it doesn’t matter whether you have a disability, you can still achieve anything you set your mind to. In addition, I love keeping fit and going to the gym. This has definitely helped when I am stressed or suffering from anxiety.