In 1998 I was in hospital having a life-changing heart surgery that would change how I lived forever.  I've told you all my story before but in short, exercise was complicated for me after this. 🫀

During this horrendous time for my parents, my godfather (second dad) Peter Smith came to visit me. He saw that my parents were taking it in turns at night sleeping on chairs next to me for a very long time. 👩🏻🧑🏻

Peter asked some of the nurses in the ward what they needed help with, and their response was videos (DVDs) for the children and more beds for the parents to sleep on as they stayed over in the hospital as they only had chairs.

Peter then decided to run the London Marathon 1998 to raise money for the ward that myself and the other kids were living in. He managed to raise £10,000, which is incredible and that was spent on videos and beds. 🏃‍♂️

⚡️25 years later I am going to walk/run the London marathon for the British Heart Foundation in an attempt to give back to all the nurses, doctors, and the science that saved me.  Also, I want to do it for Peter who ran it for me when I was incredibly unwell. ⚡️ I would like to raise at least £10,000 to match what Peter did.

Although I won't be running all the way, as I really don't like running and it would push me too much, I will be finishing it. I have spent the last 15 years getting myself to the strongest, and fittest place I have ever been.  Hopefully, you can see my passion for wellness, which has all gone into my company ARVRA wellness now. 

Talk about irony.

I feel like this is a full circle moment, even if it takes me 8 hours to finish, I WILL finish it.