I am running the London Marathon as a celebration of life and the power of the human heart and soul to survive, recover and flourish.

My story goes back a while when my son Sam was born at 26 weeks in December 2009. He was due to be born on the 24th March but arrived on a snowy December 21st night weighing a mighty 2lbs. He spent the first 5 months of his life in Shrewsbury Neonatal hospital and then another 9 months at home with oxygen support. 

Thinking back it was an incredibly emotional and traumatic time in life. It has take me a long time to process and it only now in the past year or so I have been able to talk freely and openly about the experience without breaking down. The experiences has shaped who I am an a human being and made me a better person with an appreciation of the beauty of life and how precious it is.

Thankfully my story had a happy ending and despite his difficult and traumatic start to life Sam is 14 now, fit and healthy. He is also one of the fastest 200 metre runners in the County with a serious set of lungs on him!

Our family are eternally grateful to the support we received from BLISS and our local hospital during these traumatic months. BLISS are the UK's leading charity helping babies born premature or full-term, but sick. 1 in every 7 babies born in the UK will need specialist neonatal care, which means thousands of babies and their families seek information and support from BLISS every year.

By sponsoring me your donation will help BLISS continue their work ensuring that every baby born premature will have the best chance of survival and quality of life.

Thankyou 

Stuart