Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

The reasons to fundraise are to support Lupus UK, the national charity that helps those with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) and to help raise awareness of the condition.  It is, of course, my daughter, Hannah, that is the main inspiration and driving force. Hannah suffers from lupus and has undergone two open heart operations in the last 6 years to replace two valves in her heart following aggressive lupus flare ups.

I will be taking part in the Great North run in September 2013. The course distance is 13.1 miles starting from Newcastle and finishing at South Shields. I hope to beat the world record time of 59minutes 27sec set by Kenya’s Martin Mathathi in 2011!!!

I am supporting Lupus UK because their priorities are (a) to give support to their diagnosed members (b) to increase public awareness about lupus and its impact on patients and families and (c) to maximise fundraising income, thereby increasing research into the causes.

The money raised by Lupus UK will also be channelled towards (a) welfare facilities for their members (b) provision of books and fact sheets (c) information for the medical profession and (d) growth of the charity’s member base.

Thank you very much for your support and great generosity as I go through this journey. It means a great deal to me.