If you know me, I love to run a race. Race a race. Win a race. Back in 2018 I won the Leicester Full Marathon- but known only to myself, husband and close family, I was 6 weeks pregnant. As I crossed the line my husband Daniel and I sobbed. How did I do this?!

6 years on and through the birth of our beautiful first born daughter I came across another first time mother who I instantly connected with. This relationship grew more than just a sensory class with tea and cakes. This soon became an unbreakable bond.

From the good times to the real struggles we both helped one another navigate a new life with children.

In 2021 I found out Siobhan was pregnant with her second child. We all were so excited for her to add another member to our 'gang'.

Elliot was born in Jan 2022 and was a ray of sunshine to our growing team of friends.

In April Elliott was admitted to A&E with dangerously low oxygen, he had developed Bronchitis and was extremely poorly. At this stage there was little I could do as a friend for both Elliot and Siobhan. Elliot and his older brother Isaac were apart for a while I and I knew they missed one another. I wanted to give them something that could bring them together even though they were apart so I sent over two soft hugging sloths 🦥 🦥 which could be separated yet connected again at some point. Seeing photos of each sloths with Elliot and Isaac was heartwarming ❤️ yet soon to be back together.

Whilst in hospital, Siobhan & Chris were finally able to get the attention of Drs regarding Elliot’s development which seemed delayed and so far had been out down to him being so small. After referal to a specialist peadiatrician, another long hospital stay and countless tests and scans, they found out that Elliot had in fact been born with brain abnormalities, of unknown significance or cause. This totally changed their lives. Elliot needs lots of extra care, he has a feeding tube in his tummy & is visually impaired.

Regardless, it’s our mission that Elliot will ALWAYS be included in whatever the older children get up to. From farm trips, to soft play dates. He will never miss out! But to keep him included & thriving, the family rely on specialist equipment & regular physiotherapy which the NHS cannot provide due to such high demand on their services

Elliot is a very special member of our team and I have chose to raise as much money as I can to hopefully get Elliot and his family everything he needs to help and assist him in reaching his potential, allowing him to flourish with the unconditional love he has around him. Also to ensure his family, my BEST FRIEND, who would do absolutely anything in the world for me, have absolutely NO limit to getting Elliot what he deserves!!

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

I shall be running the Leicester Marathon this year carrying a sloth to show Elliot, Siobhan and her family that myself and all of you donating, that we have got you, and we will carry and help you as a family eternally.