Just4Children are raising funds to support Jacob who needs on going specialist therapy to help develop his skills and to give him the best chance of independence and mobility.

Friends and Family! My beautiful friend, Kirsten presented me with the opportunity to run the London Marathon this year and how could I say no when it offers us the platform to continue the amazing fundraising efforts that Kirsten and her family have already achieved for her gorgeous son, Jacob. 

Please take some time to read their story and I hope that you can join me in the various events that I have planned for you (I promise it wont all be burpees!) 

Your kind encouraging words and supporting me on runs is appreciated more than you will ever know. 

I won't let you down Jacob! Ready to run this marathon xxxxx

Jacob's story:

Our little Prince Jacob is 4 years old. He was born without a heartbeat due to his mummy suffering internal bleeding. He took his first breathe after 13 mins, and subsequently suffered severe bilateral brain damage.

Due to Jacob's brain injury, he has uncontrollable epilepsy, cortical visual impairment (registered blind), and quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Jacob is non mobile and non verbal and requires 24hour care.

Jacob will need ongoing therapy to provide him with the best opportunity of gaining some independence; and functional skills, and to maintain the range in his muscles.

Since he was born he has been to various therapies such as: hyperbaric oxygen therapy, ABM, MAES, Scotson Technique, private physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, cranial sacral therapy, stem cell therapy and more recently DMI (Dynamic Movement Intervention). We have been able to fund some of this through the previous support we received from fundraising, for which we are internally grateful to everyone that donated.

Unfortunately, Jacob's condition is life long and therefore he will need continuous therapy and specialist equipment which the NHS does not provide and all of which are costly at the expense of his parents.

Jacob needs the appropriate specialist equipment to promote independence and comfort and to avoid skeletal and postural problems.

Jacob inspires me as a parent and person to do the best I can for myself and for him. He has shown me what unconditional love really is. Jacob fights and struggles everyday for the things we take for granted which is heartbreaking and feels so unfair. He wasn't expected to survive 2 days, but he still fights strong everyday and will be 4 in September. He is our world, so we want to be able to give him the world.

Thank you x