Hi everyone,

So following last year’s disappointment, I’ve waited until I’m well and truly into my training before mentioning the fundraising word!

I’m up to 16 miles in my training and it’s going well…well I say that, it's absolute agony! My life has been put on hold with training 4-5 days during week and an ever increasing long distance run every Saturday!

So why am I doing this?

As most of you know, my dad, Paul, had a horse racing accident 10 years ago that left him paralysed from the chest down and without movement in his hands. For those of you who don’t know him, my Dad was one of the most active people I think I will ever know, I don’t think he could walk anywhere, he was always jogging!!! For those of you who do know, I’m sure that will have given you a giggle!

My dad, besides being a fanatic horse rider, also enjoyed many other activities including windsurfing and skiing. Obviously these activities became something of a memory, until the spinal care unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, a spinal rehabilitation centre, introduced him to the amazing Back Up Trust. This charity endeavours to transform individual’s lives after spinal cord injuries through essential wheelchair skill days, peer support and activity courses, to name a few.

Back Up not only provided the vital wheelchair skills that allow my dad to get around in life, but also helped him see the sporting opportunities that are available to him! So as a thank you, I’m killing myself off by attempting to run the marathon, which, as I’m coming to find out, is seriously hard!

Anyway, I’m going to keep you updated with my efforts so please keep logging onto my page to see how I’m doing!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read my dad’s story, and I hope that together we can make even the smallest difference to someone else who has been affected by a life changing spinal injury.

Lots of love,

Em xxx

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