When London Marathon Events made me a Non-Exec Director this year I decided (possibly rashly) to test out all their events in person and raise money for two charities that are close to my heart, Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research and The Walkabout Foundation.

THIS PAGE IS FOR DONATIONS TO STOKE MANDEVILLE SPINAL RESEARCH

These are the events I’m taking on in 2018:
•    London Marathon
•    The Big Half Marathon
•    Vitality 10k
•    The Westminster Mile
•    RideLondon (74km cycle)
•    Swim Serpentine (1 mile swim)

Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research focuses on ‘making life liveable’ after a spinal cord injury. They use new medical breakthroughs, technological innovation and social insight to find solutions to alleviate chronic complications (like the incredibly annoying burning sensation I have constantly in my legs!), develop assistive technologies to improve neurorehabilitation, and help people with far worse spinal cord injuries than mine to realise their full potential regardless of their disability.

This is the first time in 9 years I’ve challenged myself in a way that I hope is worthy of a donation from my wonderful friends and family, so I would be very grateful for anything you can give to the fantastic charities I’m supporting. My cycling career only launched 7 weeks ago (and still does not involve owning a bike), and it takes extensive internal negotiation with myself to get into open water and start swimming (particularly in London’s hideously polluted Serpentine), so RideLondon this weekend and Swim Serpentine in September are going to be miserable experiences. And whether you can donate or not, I’d love to see you on the course/ at the finish!