Hello,

I'm running a half-marathon on the 7th of April to raise £500 for the Brightwell, a charity based in north Bristol helping people manage long term chronic neurological conditions. My partner Max has ME so this is close to home and is really important to me. He also works as a physiotherapist for the Brightwell so I hear every day the work that the team there does to support people, the impact it has and how they're changing lives. 

I gotta say it's a big moment for me personally as well - I never thought I'd be able to run long distance, but it's happening!

A little more about what the Brightwell does:

"There are an estimated 4.7 million people in the UK living with a neurological condition, in our region alone, in 2018, it was thought that just over 10,000 people were living with a long term chronic neurological condition.A diagnosis of a neurological condition is often a traumatic moment, and The Brightwell offers a safe space to terms with the news and work out a way to move forward. The therapies we offer are designed to address the many different symptoms of a neurological condition and our aim is to help people live a full, meaningful and independent life.Our core treatments are Neuro Physiotherapy & Oxygen Therapy. Neuro Physio is only provided by the NHS for 6 weeks post diagnosis but at The Brightwell we offer this care life-long at a subsidised rate for members. Our Oxygen Therapy is not available outside of MS Therapy Centres, apart from a handful of very expensive private clinics, therefore we are unique in this provision in our area."