I am really excited to be running the London Marathon in October 2022 for a wonderful local charity called Helen Arkell Dyslexic Charity. It will be a fantastic event if it goes ahead in person following the events of 2020 / 2021 with Covid-19. It has been an incredibly challenging time for charities during this period, and I am honoured to be able to help Helen Arkell raise funds through this event.

My dyslexia story is not really my own, but that of my twin sister: "I was diagnosed when I was about 6, as I could not write at all! I would just write a jumble of letters with no spaces. The extra help at that point really focused on my reading and writing, giving me the basic but invaluable skills to continue education and learning through high school and into academia. Ultimately, I was not left behind!" Her story highlights the benefits of an early diagnosis and how invaluable dyslexia training for staff in schools can be.

The Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity leads the way in providing specialist support to children, young people and adults with dyslexia and other Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLDs). Their mission is to help people: 1. Believe in themselves 2. Achieve their goals and 3. Succeed on their own terms. There is no government funding for dyslexia, despite its lifelong impact. Fundraising is vital to ensure in-depth assessment and tuition is available to anyone with dyslexia, including lower income families and schools in disadvantaged areas. 

I hope you can support me so that Helen Arkell can continue their amazing work. Thank you.