Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page - all donations will go to the Heart and Lung Transplant fund at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

I have always wanted to run for charity and so in memory of Dad I have entered the Bupa Great Birmingham Run. It's going to be a BIG challenge for me... 13.1 miles! I've never run more than 10 minutes in one go! I have to admit, I'm a little scared! So please help spur me on with those early morning runs!!!

Now for the serious bit...

Most of you will know that I lost my Dad back in 2007. It was awful and I miss him every day but it could have been worse. I could have lost him back in 1998 when I was just 12yrs old.

Dad was taken ill in the summer of 1998 following two major heart attacks. He had a hereditary heart condition that he knew nothing about. The damage to his heart was such, that the only chance of survival was to assess him for transplantation and hope that the life saving call came.

Luckily the call came six months later, just in time.

The operation was a success. Dad was out of hospital twelve days later, fighting fit. I had my Dad back, but thanks only to the selfless generosity of our donor family and the incredible skills and care from the heart and lung transplant team at the QE Hospital.

We can never thank them enough.

The team were a big part of our life up until Dad was taken ill again in 2007. The second time, we weren't so lucky, but I take great comfort in knowing that I had him for an extra eight years. He got to see me grow up, and I got to have my Dad tease, embarrass and wind me up throughout my teens (as every girl should!)

So in memory of Dad and to help me say thankyou to a life changing team of people, please dig deep, donate to a great cause to enable them to continue saving lives and don't forget to sign the organ donor register. 

https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ukt/RegistrationForm.do

Thank you x x