Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

As I set out to train for my 9th marathon, I am reaching out to all of you for your support. This marathon will be a very special one for me. I will be running in the 2012 Virgin London Marathon, in honour of my daughter, Alessandra, who passed away 15 years ago from a condition known as SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy - type I), and to raise funds for the charity - The Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (JTSMA), that helped our family get through this very difficult time.

JTSMA provided us with tremendous support through what was the most difficult experience I have had to endure in my lifetime: losing a child. Alessandra was a beautiful, happy baby and brought much joy to our family. When she was diagnosed at the age of four months, we were devastated and in disbelief. We knew that her time with us would not be long, so we set out to try and live life as normally as possible. We were put in touch with JTSMA who helped us in so many ways. I remember well, having lengthy conversations with the founder Anita MaCauley, who lost her daughter Jennifer to SMA type I (and subsequently founded JTSMA because there was a lack of support for this condition). At that time JTSMA provided us with a great deal of information about what to expect with the condition and ways to manage. They had various systems in place that provided much needed support and they have continued their efforts over the last 25 years helping numerous other families.

JTSMA was allocated a single space for the 2012 London Marathon, and they offered it to me...I am truly honoured to run for them, and appreciate any donation for this very worthy cause. I hope you will help me reach my fund-raising goal so JTSMA can continue their valuable work to so many families.

No donation is too small.