It's Official! I'm running the 2016 Virgin London Marathon and it's for a great cause, the National Childbirth Trust.

Many of my friends and family have recently become parents, and I know how crucial it was for them to have support and information available through the pregnancy and post natal care. 

Not all parents are fortunate enough to experience new parenthood without difficulty, in fact it's estimated that at least 1 in 10 women experience Postnatal Depression. For some mothers this can happen gradually, whereas for others the onset is sudden, and the effects can be debilitating both mentally and physically. This is where the NCT makes such a difference. 

All money raised will be used to develop and improve new and existing NCT services to counter postnatal depression and isolation in new parents. Your donations will help to provide increased training for volunteers to run support groups, and for new projects to help people spot the symptoms and signs earlier.

So please, spare a few pounds to help parents get through one of the most challenging times of their lives as they bring a new person into the world. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.