When Sarah was diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension in 2013, she didn't have the energy to sit up in the hospital bed, let alone walk. The prognosis for the disease was 1-2 years. A few days later, at the doctor's insistence, she did a walking test. It felt like a huge achievement to manage 23 metres. It took 6 minutes to get that far and took a full day to recover from the exhaustion. 

Nowadays, using oxygen and helped by a raft of medication every day, Sarah is occasionally able to walk around to get away from her mobility scooter, or to the next room. The maximum she has managed is 480m. 

This week will be the hardest challenge of her life. Walking a few metres everyday, aiming to earn a medal and a huge sense of satisfaction by completing 5km over 7 days. 

At the same time Phil will try to run 100 miles during the week. This will be fitted in around working full time. Given the time of year, most of this will have to be in the dark, and quite possibly in the rain.

All of this is to raise money to support a wonderful little charity who have supported us over the years, and have been a lifeline to the hundreds of PHighters around the country during the last few months of the Pandemic. Everyone with PH is clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid-19, so this has been a time of fear, worry, isolation, cancelled hospital appointments and anxiety. PHA (UK) have been there throughout, providing information, guidance, emotional support, and lobbying to ensure the ongoing difficulties of living with this life limiting disease are manageable at a time when the whole world is worrrying about health.

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. Oh, and for every pound donated, Barclays will double it.