I would like to thank everyone who sponsored me for the Flora London Marathon and whilst five and a half hours wasn't exactly a championship winning time, it was a finish and that means everything in the world!!!

Many Many Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nicola

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In September 2005 while on holiday in Portugal my friend James (26) had a tragic diving accident and broke his neck at C5 which rendered him paralysed from the chest down with little movement in his arms.  I admire James tremendously for the courage which he has shown and the determination he has to live his life to the full! I was inspired to run the London Marathon by James’ sister Eleanor and her friends who raised so much money for the charity Spinal Research last year and have dragged out my trainers to train for what will be the biggest challenge of my life.

Most of those who know me think that I am mad. Most people think I can’t do it. My general unfitness since moving out of London was very apparent and the bottles of wine were taking their toll now that I am nearing the end of my thirties! I have also had an ACL reconstruction which was never brilliant in the first place, so my knee is a bit dodgy. I am undertaking my training very seriously and whilst it is unlikely that I will break any records, I will endeavour to run the full 26 miles.

Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to funding medical research around the world to develop reliable treatments for paralysis caused by a broken back or neck.  Every year more than 800 people in the UK and Ireland and are paralysed following an injury to their spinal cord. Spinal Research raises money to fund research into clinical treatments as well as vital basic science research. Thanks to such pioneering research, paralysis can now be treated and we stand on the brink of applying therapies that will restore movement and feeling and transform the lives of paralysed people.

The next stage of the Clinical Initiative, the demanding process of taking experimental proof of concept to the bedside – so-called translational science – will be the most expensive yet and funds are urgently needed to support this crucial research.

Please dig deep and help those like James who are desperate to walk again and help to shit a few pounds off me in the process!

I really would appreciate your support.

Nicola xxxxx