23 members of the Circle Development team will take on the Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise £30,000 for The Loizias Foundation and PSC Support UK
On Sunday 11 October 2026, 23 members of the Circle Development team will line up at the start of the Royal Parks Half Marathon with a shared goal: to raise £30,000 in support of The Loizias Foundation and PSC Support UK.
This challenge is about much more than completing 13.1 miles.
It is about helping to fund autoimmune disease research, supporting the next generation of scientists, and creating opportunities for the breakthroughs that could transform millions of lives.
At the heart of this effort is our colleague and friend, Michael Loizias, whose personal experience with autoimmune disease inspired the creation of The Loizias Foundation and our commitment to supporting its mission.
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A foundation born from lived experience
The Loizias Foundation was established by Michael Loizias following his own experience of living with Crohn’s Disease and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), a rare autoimmune liver disease.
Michael was first diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease in 2017. In November 2024, he received a second diagnosis of PSC, a progressive and incurable autoimmune condition that damages the bile ducts of the liver. There are currently no treatments available to stop its progression. The diagnosis triggered Michael’s most severe Crohn’s flare in six years. Within weeks, he had lost over 20kg and underwent emergency surgery that ultimately saved his life.
Rather than accept the lack of options available to people living with rare autoimmune conditions, Michael established The Loizias Foundation with a clear mission: to fund overlooked autoimmune disease research, support the next generation of scientists, and create a lasting platform for long-term impact.
I don’t know what the future holds for my health. But every research grant we fund, every scholarship we award, every young scientist we support, that’s a step forward. All we can do is Keep Moving Forward.
Michael Loizias
Why autoimmune research matters
There are more than 80 recognised autoimmune diseases, affecting millions of people and families across the UK and around the world.
Conditions such as Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis affect approximately 1 in 10 people in the UK, with countless more family members, carers and loved ones impacted indirectly.
Yet despite their prevalence, many autoimmune conditions, particularly rare diseases, continue to face significant barriers to research funding. The challenge is not a lack of scientific talent or innovative ideas. The challenge is ensuring research receives the support needed to unlock future discoveries.
Importantly, many autoimmune diseases share common biological pathways and scientific challenges. This means that breakthroughs in one condition can often help unlock answers, treatments and discoveries in others. That is why our fundraising efforts are focused on supporting autoimmune disease research more broadly, helping to maximise the opportunity for future breakthroughs across multiple conditions.
The Loizias Foundation’s mission
The Loizias Foundation exists to create lasting impact through three interconnected areas:
- Research: Funding overlooked autoimmune disease research that may struggle to attract mainstream commercial or public funding.
- Education: Supporting talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue careers in science through scholarships and mentorship.
- Sustainability: Building a long-term financial foundation capable of supporting research and education for generations to come.
The foundation’s ambition extends beyond individual fundraising efforts. It aims to create lasting opportunities for scientific discovery and ensure future progress does not depend on any one person, donation campaign or funding cycle.
Importantly, every pound donated through The Loizias Foundation is restricted to research and educational scholarships.
Discover the Foundation’s work
The team behind the challenge
Many members of the Circle team have worked alongside Michael over the years. For newer members of the business, Michael recently joined us to share his personal experience of living with Crohn’s Disease and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC), explain why he established The Loizias Foundation, and outline the impact he hopes it will achieve.
It was an incredibly powerful and moving session. Michael spoke openly about receiving a diagnosis with no available treatment options, the life-threatening events that followed, and his determination to ensure future patients have more hope than he was offered. His resilience, honesty and commitment to creating positive change have inspired every member of the team taking part in this challenge.
This is not the first time the Circle team has come together to support Michael’s journey. In March 2025, colleagues took part in the Hampton Court Palace Half Marathon, raising more than £40,000 for Crohn’s & Colitis UK in support of Michael and to help raise awareness of inflammatory bowel disease. The team’s commitment extended beyond completing the challenge itself. It was about helping create meaningful change for people living with autoimmune conditions and supporting the research and awareness needed to improve future outcomes.
On Sunday 11 October 2026, Adam Golbourn, Aled Williams, Alex Alba, Charlie England, Dan Orban, Dean Wittering, Dillon Carson, Emma McFarland, Erika Salvitti, George Morgan, Jack Hoyle, Joe Cutler, Josh Broughton, Josh Cridland, Khubaib Ruhani, Lana Tulgara, Lloyd Thomas, Peter Christmas, Phil Swainston, Rupert Pelly, Sally McConchie, Sam Haralambous, Scott Wilson, will take on the Royal Parks Half Marathon.
Together, we are aiming to raise £30,000 to help fund research, support future scientists and contribute to the breakthroughs of tomorrow. To maximise the impact of every contribution, The Loizias Foundation has committed to match every pound raised by the Circle team. This means that if we achieve our £30,000 fundraising target, a total of £60,000 will be directed towards autoimmune disease research, scholarships and supporting the next generation of scientists.
How you can help
Every donation, no matter the size, will help move autoimmune research forward.
Whether it’s £10, £25, £100 or more, your support will help fund research, scholarships and future scientific breakthroughs that could improve the lives of millions of people affected by autoimmune disease.
Research changes lives. Funding makes research possible.
If you’re able to support the team, we would be incredibly grateful.
Thank you for backing the team.
We Keep Moving Forward.
