In October 2012 I completed my first 10k race after having been affected by cervical dystonia, a nerve disorder that affects muscle movement and causes my cervical and thoracic spine to permanently twist (see here http://bit.ly/YytWU7 for more information). Just being able to run a 10k race again took me six years of hard work, misdiagnoses, frustration, pain and perseverance. There are thousands of people in Canada and the UK, like me, having to deal with these issues every day.

On 27 May I ran the BUPA London 10000 10k in preparation for the London Royal Parks half marathon 6 October. I am running both of these races in support of the UK Dystonia Society. The Dystonia Society supports those suffering from various dystonias and provides training for medical professionals to improve diagnoses. I am aiming to raise £1,000 between these two races. Thanks to your support, I rasied £540 on my 10k. There is another £460 to go.

There is a children's nursery rhyme that begins "There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile". My dystonia may make me a crooked man, but I ran 6.2 miles on the 27 May and will run another 13.1 miles on the 6th of October. Please help me help others to cope with and overcome their dystonia. No donation is too small and I appreciate your words of support and encouragement. I can't promise to break any records, or even to win, but I will cross the finish line.