So anyone who knows me will know that I am not a runner by any stretch of the imagination! The extent of my competitive running history to date is from the couch to the bathroom to the fridge and back before the adverts finish! However, Becky and I have decided to sign up to complete the Bristol 10k race next May along with a number of family members and friends!

Why on earth would an overweight, unfit bloke put himself forward for such a thing - to raise money for a fantastic charity - The Grand Appeal!

Some of you that are reading this will know quite a lot about our youngest son Maxen, but for those who don’t;

Max was born with a congenital heart defect and in his 5 years on the planet has had 10 surgeries (5 of those being open heart operations) that have been carried out at the Bristol Royal Children’s hospital. In total we have probably spent about 8 months of Max’s life with him as an inpatient at the hospital across the various stays. Bristol children’s hospital has helped Max to work through complex cardiac problems, infections, sepsis, a stroke, tension pneumothorax, lung collapses, diaphragm palsy - just to name a few. As a family, we have been on (and continue to ride on) a massive rollercoaster of emotions, experiencing the real highs but also the real lows of life, but all the staff - surgeons/doctors/nurses/play team/cleaners (the list goes on) are incredible in how they support not only Max, but Becky, myself and our other two children Ewan and Bethany!

The charity that we are raising money for are directly linked to the hospital and they fund groundbreaking medical equipment, vital facilities, and life-changing arts and play programs, all with the goal of providing world-class care for young patients and their families. The Grand Appeal ensures that every child who steps into Bristol Children's Hospital receives the best possible care, and I am honored to be a part of their team! One of the massive ways that they have supported us and others over the years is through the accomodation that they provide for families to use free of charge. The accomodation is directly across the road from the hospital and allows families to stay together and remain close to their loved ones, providing a home away from home whilst removing huge financial worries during an already worrying time.

If you’ve got this far - thanks for sticking with me but to sum up, this is an incredible charity that has supported Maxen, supported us as a family and have made a huge difference in our lives, so I will get my large backside over that finish line to raise any money I can to support the incredible work that they do!

If you are able to give that really is hugely appreciated, but if you aren’t, a share of this link would be greatly appreciated!

Time to get my trainers dusted off and start training!

Nath 😊