In October 2022, Sarah - my beautiful, bright best friend of twelve years - was admitted into critical care with on-going seizures, later diagnosed as a rare case of NORSE Syndrome (New-Onset Refractory Status Epilepticus)*.

Prior to her diagnosis, Sarah was a fit, healthy and active young woman, usually found climbing or hiking around the Peak and Lake Districts, with her beautiful pup, Benji. She is the yang to my yin - where I am cautious, she is brave. Where she loves to be outside, I am very much a creature of comfort. When I am shaken, she roots me. She is the kind of person that lights up a room simply by being there, the kind of person who made me realise soul mates can be found in the best of friends, too. 

I am fundraising for Epilepsy Research UK because while the current road ahead for Sarah is long and uncertain, I hope that with continued research, one day NORSE will be better understood, diagnosed & treated... And the thought of Sarah's gigantic laugh when she finds out that I am running 26 miles - with my propensity for bubble baths, cardio-avoidance, and having only ever previously run one 5km event 8 years ago - will make the marathon more than worthwhile.

*NORSE and it's sub-category FIRES, is a life-threatening condition that can affect anyone, of any age, regardless of prior health. Categorised by a series of prolonged severe seizures, NORSE does not respond to typical anti-seizure medication and in most cases, the cause for its onset is rarely identified. Effective treatment remains elusive and inconstant, with most patients kept in critical care for prolonged periods. Awareness is also low for this currently poorly understood disorder, and neither Sarah's family or I were aware of NORSE prior to her diagnosis. However, there is always hope, and potentially life-saving research, sponsored by Epilepsy Research UK, is on-going at multiple facilities across the UK including UCL, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Aston University. All proceeds raised from this marathon will be directed towards NORSE and FIRES Research.