In September 2017 my youngest daughter Lizzi (19 at the time) was struck down with food poisoning. Within a couple of days days, this resulted in an emergency hospital admission and it was a downwards spiral from there. A rare form of E. Coli that she had digested caused renal failure, a rare blood disorder called HUS, heart failure, changes on her brain and chronic pneumonia. She was in a coma, on full life support, for three months. She was also on Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) which was externally running her heart and lungs through her legs. As a family, for 3 months, we lived in between 4 specialist hospitals in the London area whilst medical professionals battled to save her life.  Miraculously and unexpectedly, Lizzi survived this ordeal. However, unfortunately the HUS caused significant damage to her retina and she has awoken from her coma with no eyesight. 

Lizzi herself ran the London 2019 marathon alongside her good friend, Millie Watson as her guide. Lizzi proved to everybody that no matter what evil this world throws at you,  if you put your mind to something you can achieve it. Her new lifestyle is about realising what she can do, and not what she cant do. When Lizzi awoke from her coma, she had to learn how to support her own head again and walk - all without eyesight. Lizzi's journey showed that with a fierce attitude and pure determination, you can go from life support with multiple organ failure to a marathon in 16 months, even without eyesight. 

I joined Lizzi with her marathon training last year and it gave me the love for running. I completed half marathons and 16 miler's alongside her. It's now my chance to try and prove that I can do it! I'll be no spring chicken, but at 53 on race day I will give it my best shot! 26.2 miles here I come! 

I have chosen to run for RNIB as they provide visually impaired people with advice, knowledge and contacts to make every day better. Their practical and emotional support enables any one with sight loss to face their future with confidence.

Please do consider sponsoring me on this crazy mission and help raise funds for a very, very worthwhile cause. 

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