This litttle legend is Holly. She's had a tough start in life, but remains resolute, formidable, undaunted, and tackles everything head on. She's - essentially - a wee lass with a mighty spirit.

Holly has been diagnosed with ARFID avoidant restrictive food intake disorder - which essentially means she struggles to eat. As if this wasn't enough, a secondary infection when she contracted chicken pox as a toddler meant she lost the hearing in one ear. She's five now, and battles every day with the associated problems around her strength and development.

But you would never know it. She is the smiliest wee lass you'd ever hope to meet - life has dealt her a rotten hand, but she's dealing with it like a champion.

Getting a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) fitted for wee Holly is a huge priority, but there's a two year waiting list on the NHS. The money we're hoping to raise means it can be done privately.

We originally set the target at £3,000, although the PEG actually costs about £5,000 to fit - we figured we’d find the difference after the marathon. But everyone’s generosity has been so completely overwhelming, so utterly amazing, that we’ve hit the £3,000 target already. So we’re going to go big, and try to raise the £5,000 in its entireity through the marathon alone!

Holly goes to my own daughters school, and makes me (and everyone else) smile every time we see her. So I'm going to pay her back for making me feel good at the start of every day, by dragging my wheezing frame round the London Marathon. Then hopefully we can square away that PEG and help her out.

Every single penny you donate will go towards the PEG - no admin fee beyond the JustGiving site, and no personal expenses. Just your donation, Holly, and a chance to help her live a normal life and experience all the stuff a little girl should.

Thanks or reading this far if you have! Times are tough for everyone right now, so no worries if you can't stick a few bob, but anything that is donated will go direct to Holly.

Right, better go and find my trainers.....