Having tried for 15 years to gain a ballot place in the London Marathon, this year on March 13th at my un-fittest (and heaviest) the entry email dropped into my inbox! Time to get back on the running!

At the start of this marathon journey it was about getting me back into my running and improving my fitness. Well 5 months in and with 7 weeks to go to the marathon I have covered over 700 miles in training and all being well will cover another 300 miles before the big day.

I have decided that this commitment is too big to just do it for myself and so have decided to help a charity. In 2013 my Father came back from a holiday in France with double vision, drooping eyelids, and difficulty walking. As time went by making facial expressions and chewing and eating became difficult for Dad. We were not really getting any answers to what the issues were.

Eventually after time he was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a little known and not well understood debilitating muscle weakening condition. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune condition. When you have MG the antibodies that normally fight infections go wrong and end up attacking the communications system between your brain and your muscle movements. If left untreated then this can evolve into difficulty swallowing and breathing.

The support and help he received once diagnosed from Myaware made a huge difference. He started attending conferences and meeting others with MG and Myaware was instrumental in giving guidance and assistance in reaching the right consultants where now the disease is pretty well under control day to day. With Myawares help he gained back his confidence and understood what limitations he might have going forward and they provided a massive amount of information and support (still ongoing today).

So I have joined up with Team Myaware taking part in the TCS London Marathon 2022 on Sunday 2nd October to help support the myasthenia community. Every penny you donate will support people living with this rare condition. The money you donate is ensuring our community can continue to fight myasthenia together. So please donate if you can and help me to raise funds for this brilliant cause! Thank you.