Michi and Jenna will be running the Royal Parks half marathon this October, here is our story:

Jenna: On the 8th October this year I am going to be running the Royal Parks half marathon. Wow, those are words I never in a million years thought I would write!

I am running in order to raise money for The Brompton Fountain, a charity that supports children and their families at The Royal Brompton hospital, London, in the paediatric cardiac and respiratory intensive care unit, inpatient ward, and outpatient department.

Last year we very nearly lost Charlotte. We spent a long time in hospital, and Charlotte had to endure a number of life-saving surgeries and procedures, whilst watching other patients come in and go home, with no sign of her getting better too. The incredible medical team at the Brompton saved Charlotte’s life, and the equally incredible team at the Brompton Fountain saved our sanity; and both continue to do so now she is an outpatient. PICU (paediatric intensive care unit) is both the most wonderful and the most terrible place I have ever encountered, and the ward is a close second.

The Brompton Fountain provides psychological support, play supplies and medical equipment that the medical team would not otherwise have, making treatment and hospital stays so much easier and more bearable for children from only a few hours old up to when they transition to adult care, at a time when the whole world should stop spinning and you don’t even know which way is up. I never would have understood the enormous difference this charity makes had we not had first hand experience.

So I’m not doing this for fun. Anyone who knows me will know I HATE running. I have bad knees and an old foot injury from a break that was never set, which makes long hikes and running extremely painful, as well as a whole host of other rather less viable reasons (generally being extremely lazy!). But I want to give something to this charity that has given us so much, to help them continue to provide their world class care. So please donate if you are able, and share this with anyone you think may wish to help.

With love, Jenna

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Michi: I had not originally intended to run this, but after seeing the incredible generosity that friends and colleagues have donated to Jenna’s fundraiser, I hope that I can add to this and further enhance the work that this wonderful charity does.

You’ve just read what happened to our daughter Charlotte, and why we are doing this, so I won’t repeat it. Suffice to say that a situation that could have broken us didn’t because of the work and resources provided by the Brompton Fountain, and I want to help them continue to provide this to other patients and their families.

I was shocked to learn that many of the things the Brompton Fountain do would be provided in Switzerland as standard but are not here in the UK. They have to be provided by charities such as the Brompton Fountain, who rely on the generosity of donors.

As to the event itself, my aim is to finish in a quick (for me!) time, rather than just to get around it. I’ll really be pushing myself in order to earn it!

Thank you very much for your support, Michi