Dear family and friends,

Some of you may know that I love nothing more than going for a run/ trot. You may also know that for the last 15 years the MS Society has been a cause extremely close to my family’s heart.

The time has finally come for me to pull on the orange vest and have a go at completing the 26.2 miles around London. I will be following in the footsteps of my brother Ed, who narrowly missed out on a bronze medal and GB qualification back in 2018 - he blames the can of lager he drank at mile 22.

I will be running for my mum, Jacqueline, and her sister, Yolanda. Both are living with progressive MS.

MS is an unpredictable and incurable condition that affects the nervous system. It can attack suddenly or progress steadily, bringing a range of symptoms including sight loss, chronic pain, fatigue and mobility problems. No-one with MS can be sure when or how it will affect them next.

For my mum and Yolanda, every day is a challenge – with chronic symptoms stopping them from living the physically active lives they lived before. However, their positivity, resilience and sense of humour never cease to amaze me.

The MS Society funds vital research into the causes of MS and possible treatments, including Octopus, a revolutionary drug trial that has transformed the way treatments are tested. Both Jacqueline and Yolanda are taking part. The Society also provides a helpline service, answering the calls of those looking for advice and support.

I know how much my mum and Yolanda would love to have their legs back in action. That probably won’t happen but it’s time for me to put mine to good use and find out just how far they can take me. Any donation would be very much appreciated. But equally a cheer from the sidelines would go a very long way too.