This is my first marathon. Perhaps I missed the sign when the marathon was cancelled but it is still possible to run it, just in a different way. If someone can do it on their balcony, 20 miles in my garden seems 'easier'. I hope to sandwich two sets of 10 miles in the garden with 6.2 miles on the Antrim Road, be home in under an hour thus keeping within the rules in place to keep us all safe. Covid 19 has changed the way we do so many things and has impacted on all of us to a greater or lesser extent. The Belfast City Marathon is an important fundraiser every year for many local charities. Who knows if it will go ahead as re-scheduled in September? So, before the notion goes off me and my ageing frame realises a half marathon is plenty, I am hoping to join the club. Why this charity? While Covid 19 has made us all stop to a certain degree, children continue to be born with heart defects. Children continue to need surgery and travel to both Dublin and England remains necessary. Just short of 11 years ago our family had first hand experience of the great work this charity does and it has provided support to us ever since. We will be eternally grateful, Grainne x

Children's Heartbeat Trust is a local charity supporting families of children with heart disease in Northern Ireland. We work closely with Clark Clinic at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children to ensure that children with heart disease and their families receive the best care, treatment and support possible.We are solely funded by the generosity of the public to maintain our services of support and are grateful for every donation received.For more info on our work please visit www.childrensheartbeattrust.org Thank You.