In 2019 my daughter, Harriet or H as we call her, had just graduated from university, After 4 amazing years in Newcastle she was preparing to get ready for the world of work, but first a weekend of "glamping" at the Latitude festival with her mum was waiting. 

On the Thursday before the festival the girls packed up the car and headed off, H had been feeling a bit unwell, but we were not unduly worried as she's always been so healthy. On the Thursday evening I got a text to say they'd arrived safely, so all ready for a fabulous weekend.

On Friday at around 6pm, my wife, who is a doctor, called to say she was bringing H home as she had a high temperature and generally wasn't well. I was told not to worry, but as a precaution they would go to A&E and get a blood test. An hour or so later my wife called and told me I had to come to the hospital immediately, when I arrived my wife told me that H was in multiple organ failure and she may not make it through the night...words you never want to hear, quite frankly your worst nightmare. Due to the fantastic work of our local hospital H was stabilised and taken to Intensive Care, and due to an amazing haematologist a condition known as HLH was diagnosed, an extremely rare condition. H's condition required highly specialised treatment and a bed was found at UCLH, one of the very few places in the UK able to treat HLH. H was blue-lighted to London with her mum.

At UCLH, H's care was taken over by Dr Jessica Manson and her amazing team. We were warned her chances of surviving were not great, the first 5 days a roller coaster of emotions as her treatment started to take effect. H spent 7 days in Intensive Care and another 10 days on the ward. The treatment and support she received at UCLH was incredible, the support we received as parents was unreal, these incredible people saved my daughters life, we went from despair to elation in just over a week. The day H came home is the best day of our lives, nothing can surpass the emotion you feel or the gratitude we will always have for the NHS.

The work the UCLH Charity undertakes makes an amazing contribution to patients, their families and the wonderful staff at UCLH. This is an incredible charity that supports a world class hospital. I am honoured to run for them, the money raised will mean they can continue their amazing work. 

I will end by saying that when I cross the finish line (I'll crawl If I have to!), I will be met my wonderful daughter. What more can I say!

Thank you so much for reading and for your generous donation.

Andy