I will once again be running the Great North Run to raise funds for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF), the charity who support the Freeman hospital, the hospital that saved my son Jack’s life and continue to provide his care today.

As many will already know Jack suffers from a condition known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. This is a rare congenital heart disease in which means that the left side of the heart does not form. As a result this leaves Jack with only half a working heart.

Jack is 5 years old and has already undergone 5 open heart surgeries and countless other minor surgeries. Through it all Jack has been amazing and defied the odds time after time. He unfortunately suffered a stroke during surgery which affects his left hand and he struggles to keep up with the other kids but he always tries his best in everything that he does.

Through all of this Jack and his parents have been supported by the Freeman hospital, from finding out about the condition at the 20 week scan to the present day. None of this would be possible without the amazing work that CHUF do. They raise funds to provide accommodation to families whilst their child is in hospital, provide life saving equipment as well as play rooms, staff and clown doctors to entertain the sick children. The work CHUF do helps to make the hospital experience that bit better and I will be forever greatful for everything they have done for Jack.

This year will be the fifth time I have ran the Great North Run for CHUF, and I would love to raise my biggest total ever. I aim to take my total raised to 5k this year, 1k for every year the hospital has given me with my son. At times it felt like this day would never come but it is testament to the hospital, CHUF and Jacks amazing attitude that I am able to talk so positively today.

Please help me to meet my target by donating what you can and sharing this far and wide.

Thank you.