Hi Reader!

I'm running for Bliss, the special care baby charity, which provides vital support and care to premature and sick babies across the UK. 

I have 3 sons - all alive today purely because of the facilities and skills of the teams available for premature babies.

My first was born at 34 weeks, second at 32 weeks and the third at 25 weeks.

 

What motivates me to run for BLISS

I've sat in neonatal units for days. The endless staring at machines, wires and talking to the nurses looking for the glimmer of hope in the language they use. 

 

I've listened to the dinging and binging of the machines; I recognise the noise when the sats drop and the oxygen levels are dropping below the norm and I've watched babies disappear from the unit. 

 

I understand the milestones. Intensive to high care from high care to neonatal, the heated cot, the nose feeding to bottle feeding, and I know the fear and joy of taking a tiny baby home.

 

Bliss provides vital support to people and families like mine.

 

Why on earth did I start running?!

6 years ago I started running. I started running because I'd had 3 kids, I was unfit, and I wanted to be able to run for 1 hour so I could play hockey.

 

When I was at school, I hated running. In fact, it used to take me about 15 minutes to do 1 mile and that was pushing it. 

 

The London Marathon was definitely not on my to do list in fact it wasn't until I watched my friend on TV come over the finish line that it even entered my mind.

 

Having done a few half marathons, I thought I actually want to do the London Marathon. But I wanted to run for a charity that meant something to me so I had something to think about whilst pounding the 26.2 miles route. And that charity really has to be BLISS. 

 

And after 4 attempts of trying to enter the London Marathon, I'm in!!

 

So sponsor me!

 

Thank you for taking the time to read my page.