Hello! I know there are loads of these flying around - all equally important - but thank you for visiting my JustGiving page. 

As some of you know, I lost my Dad last year. He died of pneumonia caused by a stroke he suffered just three weeks prior. Sadly, he wasn't meant to beat this one. He died peacefully on the 31st May 2012. 

Soon after his death, I got very sick as did other members of my family. All of us had to face the pain of loss as well our own personal health battles. Long story short - I thought a half marathon would be a good idea. Something to get me healthy whilst raising money for a charity in honour of my Dad. And BOY was I right (full of bright ideas me 😜) 

On the 8th September 2013 I ran the Run to the Beat half marathon. I ran 13.1 miles in 2 hours 12 minutes which, considering I could barely run for the bus before I reckon is an impressive time. I was greeted by my amazing friends Athena, Amy, Chanya, Hana, Shona & Layo at the finish line and was spurred on by the 100 or so donations from beautiful & kind friends. We've now raised well over £1,000 and that's all down to you so THANK YOU!!

I have slowly come to realise that grieving does not simply 'end' nor do you magically 'get over it' - to say you must 'deal with grief' is assuming it's some inconvenient problem that must be swept away quickly. Loss - though unbearably awful - is a part of life: Instead I've learnt that the pain changes and shifts as time passes and you grow older but it doesn't go away. It just doesn't. You just learn to live with it. All you can do is go along (sometimes unwillingly) with the change and see where it takes you. 

On that note I would like to thank everyone for their generosity, support, patience, kindness and hard earned cash. 

Forever grateful. X