On 27th April 2025 I will be running my 10th London Marathon in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. Just over 10 years ago, in June 2014, my daughter Emily was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour and has been under the care of GOSH ever since. So far, the Emily Grote Team GOSH fund has raised £183,945 and I hope that this year's marathon will get that figure over the £200,000 mark.

Since the day of her diagnosis, at the age of just 3 years old, Emily has undergone countless surgeries at GOSH. Without the treatment and care she has received at GOSH, she wouldn't be with us now. It has been an exhausting decade for all of us, but most of all for Emily. The tumour has cost her dearly, with the total loss of her eyesight and many other highly complex medical complications caused by damage to her brain functions. She is currently visiting the hospital once every two weeks, to drain fluid from the cystic parts of the tumour which grow up and make her very unwell.

Despite all this, we have so much to thank GOSH for: not least, the kindness, support and outstanding care of the staff who go above and beyond every day for families just like us.

So many people have been immensely generous in supporting me year after year in running the marathon for Great Ormond Street. If you feel moved to do so once again in my 10th London Marathon, then please know how very grateful I am for your continued generosity, kindness and good wishes.

Thank you all for your support!

Ashley & Emily x