In the spring of last year my niece, Eloise, was diagnosed with a chromosomal disorder known as 22q11 Deletion Syndrome, or 22q for short. Even though most people have never heard of it, it is actually the second most common chromosomal disorder. Only Downs Syndrome is more common. 

22q affects one in every two thousand people but much greater awareness of the disorder is needed: for parents, doctors, teachers, and more. 

That's where the charity Max Appeal come in. They exist to encourage and support parents who have children with 22q. They provide critical resources to teachers and doctors too. 

The charity have been a huge help to Eloise and her family and so I'm very happy to help raise some much needed funds for this charity by running the Leicester Half Marathon. It is such a worthy cause and I hope you'll seriously consider giving generously. 

If you'd like further information about Eloise's story, please read this article:  (http://www.samradford.com/post/ive-been-in-denial-about-my-daughters-health-problems) written by her father, my brother-in-law. It gives a great insight into the many challenges that affect people with 22q. 

You can also find out more about Max Appeal by visiting their website: (http://www.maxappeal.org.uk/). 

You can come and join me, either to support, or run the 13.1 miles if you would like to. It is on Sunday 26th October (http://www.leicestermarathon.org.uk)

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.