On 26th April 2020, my incredible and brave little boy, Harry, celebrated his 10th birthday and I was due to take on the biggest physical challenge of my life, in honour of him and everything he has overcome in the first decade of his life. However, the Covid pandemic hit and this challenge was postponed. Finally, 3 years later than planned and 3 days before my brave little man becomes a TEENAGER I will be putting my trainers back on and completing the challenge I originally set myself in 2020. Joined by my fantastic friend and running coach Michelle Caulfield as my guide runner along with our dear friend Alison Howard who is veryexcited to be joining |Team Harry ......London Marathon 2023, we're coming to get you!!!

Our baby boy turning into a teenager is a day that we never thought we would see and certainly not one that doctors expected us to see when Harry was first admitted to hospital at the age of 16 weeks. Suffering from horrendous seizures with an unknown cause, he was critically ill and we were told to expect the worst (something that no parent should ever have to hear).

Our lives were torn apart and the weeks and months that followed were full of tests, scans, medicine and hospital appointments. After 18 months of this rollercoaster Harry was finally given the diagnosis of Mitochondrial Disease (Mito)

Not only is Mitochondrial disease debilitating, it is also progressive and terminal with no treatment or cure . Despite such a bleak prognosis, Harry has continued to fight the daily battles (with severe epilepsy, profound deafness, complex developmental difficulties and sensory processing disorder to name a few) and to defy doctors by learning to walk and climb (amongst many other things!). His strength, determination and bravery never cease to amaze us and we are immensely proud of everything he achieves.

Like every other family who have a child with Mito, we have had to come to terms with the reality that we are not going to have our beautiful little boy forever. The Lily Foundation have been there for us every step of the way and not only have they provided us with invaluable information and emotional support but they have also enabled us to connect with other families in the same situation as us. I can't put into words how amazing this charity is and how vital it is for families like ours to have this support network available to us.

And now it’s my turn to be brave, just like Harry, and to give something back to the charity who have done so much for us.. as someone who never ran until 6 years ago, taking on a Marathon is extremely nerve racking and possibly slightly crazy but I will do this for my baby boy and for all those other families who rely so much on The Lily Foundation!

The Lily Foundation was founded in Lily's memory, having lost her battle to Mitochondrial Disease at just eight months old. The charity aims to give hope, answers and support to the many other children and families that face the challenges of this disease today.
Did you know every day in the UK a baby is born who will develop Mitochondrial Disease! There is no cure for this disease which is for many, debilitating and life limiting.
Please stand with us and fight Mitochondrial Disease and fight for hope.
I am running 26.2 miles ...... please donate if you can.