Hey there, all you beautiful people! 👋 ❤️

You look great today by the way!

(just saying ☺️)

Firstly, thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to read this…. Life is crazy, I know!

Now, as you may or may not be aware, I’m running the Manchester Marathon in 2025. Yep, an ACTUAL FULL marathon, as in 26.2 goddam miles (or basically Nuneaton to Birmingham)…. Crikey that’s a long way 😱

Whether I run, walk, roll, or catch a piggyback from someone dressed as a fridge, I will cross that flaming finish line and I’m doing it for Alzheimer’s Research UK—a cause that’s as close to my heart as my bad-ass knee braces will be to my legs.

Now, you might be wondering why on earth I’m running a marathon when my knees have been through more plot twists than an episode of Eastenders!? 😆 Well, how long have you got? 🤣🤯 🕰️ 📚

Let’s start from the top. Back in 2000, I was on track to progress towards a career in the West End. Dancing, Singing, Acting, aspiring to “triple threat” vibes, 💃🏼 🎤 🎶 🎭 ⭐️

I’d fought off the tough competition of auditions and was heading to the big smoke 🏙️. But just a week before moving to London to join Italia Conti, life decided to throw in a surprise plot twist: a knee injury that forced me to hang up my dancing shoes. 🦵 🚑 🏥 😫

Physio, pioneering electrode treatment ⚡️ , and sheer stubbornness got me active again and I started running…. despite a surgeon’s “you’ll never run again” verdict. ❌🚫🚷😭

Fast forward to 2006, and my OTHER knee joined the drama with repeated dislocations. 😤

Another “no running” sentence from the top medical brass gave me a huge knock…… but N’AHHHHH, that’s not for me! 👊🏼 💥 💪🏼

I defied the odds, kept pushing, and even managed to complete a half marathon in 2015.

But, of course, this wasn’t the end of my knee sagas 🙄😬

In 2020, there was more drama and I ended up with a fracture in my original “bad” knee.

I’d pushed my luck too far now and surgery was unavoidable, but then (cheers Covid 🤬) it was delayed, so in Feb. 2022, I FINALLY had major surgery (a Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy and Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction for the science nerds 😆🤓) to try and get my knee back on track… 🩼⚒️🔩⛏️🩸💉

And yes, I now beep through airport scanners due to the screws in my shin! 🚨 ‼️ ✈️ 👮

During the long and life-sucking recovery process and hearing “You’ll never run again.” for a THIRD time! 🥱

….. Guess who’s somehow still running anyway? 🙌🏽🙋🏼‍♀️

This time, I’m running for my Grandma Kath. My Dad’s mum (everyone knows Big Roy! ❤️⭐️🤗 🏠 🦅 ), Grandma Kath was the sweetest Irish soul with a great sense of humour and a bottomless pocket of Polo mints. Her favourite phrase was “Fiddlesticks” so I’ll try to use that instead of other “F” words after about mile 18 😆 👟 🏃‍♀️

Grandma Kath doted on us grandkids, but over the years, Alzheimer’s slowly took her away from us. Her humour, her stories, her memory—all faded until she was just a shell of the woman we loved.

Alzheimer’s doesn’t just steal memories; it steals people. It’s heart-wrenching and affects too many families, with numbers set to soar in the coming years. This marathon is my way of saying enough is enough, and doing what I can to support Alzheimer’s Research UK in the fight for a future without this vile disease.

So here’s the part where I need YOU. 🫵🏼🙏🏼💋

Whether it’s the price of a coffee, a fiver, or more if you can spare please, every single penny goes to Alzheimer’s Research UK, helping fund work that could one day, avoid other families this heartbreak.

And while you’re donating, you’ll also be fueling my big bucket-list dream to run these godforsaken 26.2 miles (let’s be real, I’m definitely walking some of them).

PLEASE donate if you can, even a little goes a long way. Together, we can make a lasting impact and get one step closer to a cure.

⭐️ 📅 ✅ I have an awesome evening of entertainment and TOP PRIZES upcoming for fundraising on FRIDAY 22nd November 2024 (7pm), at The Chestnuts club, Nuneaton. Quizzes, games and much more. Everyone is welcome (adults, kids and everyone in between) so PLEASE come along and support (or even just to try and win the overnight stay for 2 at Champneys worth £400)🤍 🧖‍♀️ 😍😇

Here’s to memory-making, milestone-crushing, and maybe, just maybe, a miracle cure for Alzheimer’s? 🙏🏼

To you all, my amazing family, friends and connections. I know you’ll have my back on this (physical and fundraising) journey….

So from the bottom of my heart (and legs)….. Thank you! ❤️ 👏🏼

…. & please give me a beep to keep me going if you see me out pounding the pavements 🚗 🎺 🚶‍♀️ 👋

Peace out ✌🏼💋