There are two reasons for competing in the Chester half marathan,  one to improve health and fitness, three years ago I suffered with a collapsed lung and although I recovered from the pneumonia I had within a month the after effects were more severe. It has been a long journey back to health and fitness, I have excellent support from family and friends and gone from only walking a few steps before having to stop to breath to advancing to body combat classes and running, this could not have been possible if I didn't have the support from my daughter and husband along the way, also a great deal of support from my body combat instructors and friends I have met at the local gym I go to.

The second reason for competing in this marathan was to promote awareness of kidney failure and to support the research that is done every year.  Sadly late last year a patient that I had cared for had sadly passed away for confidentiality reason his name will not be disclosed, but this enhanced my desire to run the Chester  half marathan. I feel that renal failure needs to be addressed more and to bring awareness to the general public in this deadly disease.

 Until I worked in the field of renal failure I knew little about this disease, how many people it effects every year, and the struggles  that patient goes through day in day out. It is so easy for people to support patients, the main one being kidney donors, the pain that patients go through everyday can vary and seeing it first hand can be heartbreaking. By supporting kidney research it provides more and more patients with hope that there will be a break through with this disease, and also preventive measures.  It also enables patients to have a everyday life that they deserve. I have worked in this field of nursing for over ten years and take pride in care that is provided, so to give something back I decided to take part in the Chester half marathan.