In April 2019 I became a dad to a beautiful little girl Amelia. Amelia didn't leave hospital for 7 days following birth as she was severely jaundiced. She underwent intensive UV light treatment and with no progress made, was moved to the Special Care Baby Unit.

Even though we knew she would recover and leave hospital healthy, it was traumatic enough for my wife and I at the time, to not be able to hold our daughter as we wished and to see her under constant UV light in an incubator. It's only looking back that we realise and understand how lucky we are to have a perfect healthy daughter. Others are not as fortunate and I'm guilty of taking that and so much more for granted.

In 2019, I reflected upon so many changes I wanted to make in my life, namely my weight and physical/mental health. I started to train with the aim of completing this run in September 2020 (pre-Covid) to give my daughter something to be proud of when she grows up and give back to the families who aren't as fortunate as ours. I watched the 2019 Great North Run with my family with Amelia in her pram. The following day I emailed the Children's Liver Disease Foundation to make an enquiry about running in September 2020 in aid of them. On 3rd January 2020 I received the news that I had been accepted as one of 25 runners for the CLDF.

The run as we know it was postponed in 2020 due to Covid, but I completed a virtual 13.1 miles/half marathon. The funds raised would rollover to 2021 when all being well, the Great North Run would return. Whilst the route has changed slightly, I have continued my running and kept the weight off (most of it!). It's still a struggle at times but I've continued to put the hard work in. I'd be so grateful for your support, encouragement and any donation to what I believe is such a worthy cause that can help towards so many children's lives. 

Thanks, Andrew