Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. On 5th November this year I will be taking part in the Whole Hog Run at Wantisden Valley in Suffolk. This might sound like a nice leisurely Saturday morning run through the Suffolk countryside, but it will actually be a 12k course through mud, water and other fiendish obstacles!

For those who know me well, the thought of me a. running and b. getting in the slightest bit wet and muddy will probably sound hilarious and you're right, I intend to have fun!! Up until 4 months ago I wouldn't even run for a bus, but now with the help of my personal trainer, Dan Brown, I'm a committed regular runner. Doing the Whole Hog Run will be a huge challenge for me, but you only live once, so why not?

You might wonder why I'm doing something like this and the simple answer is to help a very worthwhile charity. East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) is an absolutely brilliant cause and supports families and cares for young people and children with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. The hospice in Ipswich is 5 minutes away from where I live and is somewhere I pass on every one of my runs. This is a charity which has personal significance to me as my Granparents have supported it for many years. When my Grandmother passed away last year, family and friends were asked to contribute to EACH rather than send flowers.It means a lot to me to continue my Granparents' legacy and can't think of a better way to start than embarking on this challenge.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.

 

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So I did it! After a very gruelling hour and three quarters, I made it across the finish line. There was blood, sweat and lots of tears (of laughter) and although it was incredibly challenging, it was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. With the help of my running buddies Jo and Adele I slid down muddy banks, climbed up cargo nets, travelled down zip lines into a very cold river and ran across fields where the only crops appeared to be stinging nettles!

I'm so proud of myself for completing this challenge and I'm now looking for the next thing to do. Finally I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has shown me such amazing support. Being able to raise so much money for EACH has meant a huge amount to me and has also made me realise what kind, generous and generally wonderful friends, family and colleagues I have. If you still wish to donate there is time, so please feel free. As promised, I have downloaded the photographs of the event, so enjoy!!