Since leaving teaching 2.5 years ago I have had the privilege of working with the most exceptional group of young people I have ever met. 

Every day I am truly humbled by the selflessness, the kindness and the empathy these young carers show the person they care for and everyone else around them. 

The young carers MYTIME work with, some as young as 5, provide care for someone in their family. It could be their parent, sometimes it is both their parents, it could be their brother or sister or any other family member. 

These young carers provide both physical care and emotional support to the person or people they care for and this can be extremely challenging at times. The worry and the responsibility they feel can weigh heavy on such young shoulders. 

Time and time again I am moved to tears listening to their stories. When a 5 year old tells you they can't play outside because they need to be there in case mummy has a fit. Or when a teenager tells you they are working all the hours they can to help support the family financially. Or when a young adult carer says they sometimes have to steal food to make sure their family can eat. 

I am filled with such a deep sense of pride in what these amazing young people do everyday for those they care for. They always talk about how close they are to the person they care for and the strength of those relationships. I often wonder if I would be able to step up and do what they do. In truth I'm not always sure I could. 

I'm running the London Marathon this year to fulfil two ambitions. 

I have been to watch the marathon so many times and it always fills my heart; the courage of the runners many of them new to running, the warmth of the crowd and the incredible atmosphere make it impossible not to want to take part. 

I also want to raise as much money as humanly possible to support MYTIME Young Carers. Working for MYTIME has given me more fulfilment than I have ever known. I work alongside an incredible team of people who are 100% committed to doing everything they can to support these exceptional young people and give them all the opportunities they deserve.

MYTIME days are the best days.