So this time about a year ago I was sat watching the Great North Run 2021 lazily in bed & through half inspiration & half stupidity haha (can't even blame it on having a wine haha) I thought it would be a great idea to contact the MS Trust there & then about running for their amazing charity in 2022.........fast forward to one year later and it's now all very, very real ( and scary) & I now have a shiny number and MS Trust vest & I'll be stepping over that start line with thousands of amazing people in just over a week's time on September 11th after being given a guaranteed place on the Great North Run MS Trust team supporting this amazing charity that is very close to my heart 💙

So hands down this is going to be a really tough one for me & even after years of running & having completed this run before in 1 hour 40 mins many, many years ago.....a lot has gone on since then & on top of old age, two kiddies & enjoying too much wine & cake haha the condition Multiple Sclerosis does not make things like this easy anymore at all & it can also be a very unpredictable condition & I have to be sensible at the same time & that's the nature of this beast of a condition but unfortunately for MS I'm a pretty tough, stubborn bugger 💪......

So here's to taking on this famous half marathon to give MS a huge kick up the arse & two fingers, to do it whilst I still can & I'm able to & to do it for all of the other amazing people out there fighting this horrendous disease! And if it takes me all day to get round I'll get round......and still get to that pub at the end, blisters and all haha.....and Andy better have bought the first round in ready and waiting 🙌💙

On a personal note this is also a very poignant date for me too as the Great North Run will coincide pretty much to the day since I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis 4 years ago back in 2018, after all sorts of horrible & random things started happening and appearing after our little girl was born by a full on, traumatic emergency C-section in 2016. I'd just turned 34, our little boy had excitedly started reception & our little girl wasn't even 2 yet......and god damn it sitting in front of the Consultant that day to be told the news was a definite 'room closing in, slow motion, life changing moment' that I wanted to run away from as fast as I could & one that I wouldn't wish on anyone else.....hence the main reason for taking on this challenge to raise as much awareness and donations as possible to help this amazing charity continue the fantastic work they do to help people and their families unfortunate enough to be in this position.....and also to fund and help support awareness and research into treatments, medications and the holy grail of a cure to end this horrendous disease once and for all 💙 

So here's to getting myself round this amazing run no matter what it takes & how long it takes......which will no doubt be a combination of running, walking, dragging my stupid right leg round, crying, eating lots of jelly babies, "hitting the wall", wondering whether I'm hallucinating or dying when I get overtaken by a man dressed as a banana, saying "never again" 😂 .....even contemplated strapping my little boys scooter to my back haha.....It's all going to be about enjoying the experience, getting round in one piece & hopefully doing myself, my family, the MS Trust & fellow MS fighters proud & any pennies donated towards this truly worthy cause would be absolutely amazing & would mean the world, especially in these really tough times 💙 

Thank you so much everyone & here's to a world without MS & continuing to fight it and kick its ass in the meantime 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

The MS Trust is committed to ensuring everyone with MS can access the treatments and services they need and deserve. We aim to represent and reach all people affected by MS, from the moment of diagnosis throughout their journey. Your support will allow the MS Trust to continue to train health professionals. Approximately 103,688 people with MS live in areas where there are not enough MS nurses to look after everyone. So, The MS Trust are working with the NHS to fund new MS nurses in the areas that need them most and ensure people with MS have the care and support they need 💙