My funny, beautiful, kind and sparkling bright 5 year old niece- daughter of Jodie & Sam, received the devastating news that a relatively innocuous tender pain in her shoulder was in fact, bone cancer back in April this year. Osteosarcoma to be precise.

From the moment she was diagnosed her world would change as she knew it. She has spent weeks on end in hospital ( and will spend many months more) receiving chemotherapy that were the same doses given to an adult, they would be bed bound for days. Yet, my effervescent niece Neiva has leapt out of bed to craft, play music, dance, race corridors in a push along car and make the most of it all!

Osteosarcoma is a very rare form of cancer and Neiva's body has undergone limb saving and frankly life saving procedures. Travelling to Birmingham Children's Hospital to have a smaller bone from her leg used to replace the part of her upper arm that had a tumour within it. A HUGE, 12 hour operation. Within 8 hours she was up, out of bed and wanting to be out and about in her temporary wheelchair.

The reason for my wish to raise money for The Children's Hospital Charity is to acknowledge the incredible care and brilliant work done by the charity on Neiva's behalf and every child that enters the Sheffield Children's Hospital every day. Every single facet of her care from the creative and nurturing play specialists, the musicians, the crazy clown visits, the playful geniuses (Sme & Sean) in Orthopaedics, the gentle therapy dogs and their wonderful owners and above all else the glue that binds them all- the kind and compassionate nurses and the wider medical team.

I think most people's perception of a Children's Hospital and in particular a children's cancer ward would be one of sorrow and sadness, and whilst what what children go through within those walls seems so desperately unfair- as patients and family, it is a place that wraps you up in a cocoon and step by step uses every mechanism to make your child well again.

It is often the simple things that Neiva's parents and I have witnessed first hand that can make such a difference... from the little crafting packs, keepsake teddies used as instruments to demonstrate and mimic the procedures the child will go through to give them reassurance. The barrel loads of glitter, play dough, glue sticks ,miles of paper and batteries that power the remote control cars that Neiva takes such glee in racing. The volunteer book readers that come to the bedside to bring fresh eyes and imagination to the words on a page for the kids. Chris the inventive and charismatic musician who comes in weekly to get Neiva and the other children huddled together in a room to make the most colourful, vibrant sounds ( not sure we can classify as music).

Behind those walls, children have minutes and hours to play and joy that you would not believe possible, given their illness and that is part of the brilliance of Sheffield Children's Hospital and why I am doing the Sheffield 10k run to raise money for this charity.

Neiva will spend many months more undergoing treatment. Months of sickness, struggling to eat, fighting the anxiety that comes with the scans, x-rays and frequent blood checks, moments where her battery will feel low on power- but she could not be in better hands!