I’m running the New York marathon 2023 in November and would kindly ask for any support you can give. Here are two reasons why...

Firstly, training is going to be a huge struggle as I have Ruaridh (2) and Gary (52-years-old) to take care of, as well as holding down a full-time job and trying to stay relatively sane.

Secondly - and most importantly - I’m doing this to raise funds for Kids Operating Room. You can find out more about KidsOR here - www.kidsor.org - but, in short, the team fund and build paediatric operating rooms in low- and middle-income countries, providing dedicated spaces for children’s surgery. It costs just £75 to operate on a child and potentially save their life.

I went to Uganda eight years ago with some of the team when the charity’s story first began, and they opened the country’s first ever children’s operating theatre. I also watched as they carried out their first operation on a tiny baby, who thankfully survived. It was a simple operation - a procedure that would have been carried out immediately and without question in Scotland - however if it hadn’t been for the theatre opening that morning, that little boy would have died.

It was a tough watch back then, however I’m a mum myself now and the thought of Ruaridh or any other child facing certain death, lifelong suffering or being abandoned because they do not have access to medical help is unthinkable. Any donations and support would be much appreciated.