Hi,  For those of you who know me & Julie, you will know that we have never been runners.

However, I started going out for the odd run when my husband Andy was training for the Marathon last year and after seeing him successfully complete it, it inspired me to push myself that little bit further and Julie became my training partner and we have continued to push ourselves.

 Therefore, on March 10th , Myself and Julie Wright will be taking part in the Lydd Half Marathon,  a challenge, 12 months ago would have been almost unthinkable.

We are doing this for our own pride and self acheivement, but I was hoping that I could also use this opportunity to help raise some funds for a dear friend of mine and her amazing cause that has recently been highlighted in the news.

Paula Hudgell and her family, fostered and then subsequently adopted baby Tony ,who at 41 days old was admitted to hospital with multiple fractures of all his limbs, dislocations of various joints, blunt trauma to his face and multiple other injuries.  He had been left anything up to 10 days before he was taken to the doctors in an unresponsive state.  By this time his poor body had given up to the injuries and he developed Sepsis, toxic shock and multi organ failure.  He was on the brink of death and if it wasn't for the amazing NHS working so quickly and tirelessly on him for the next 3 months he would not have survived.  Sadly last year due to the injuries and infection he had to have both his legs amputated and will still need multiple operations going forward for the rest of his life.  He is also deaf in one ear, but he is a happy 4 year old that loves life.

Paula & her family fought for justice to be brought against the birth parents which succeeded in a maximum 10 year sentence and has gone on to present 12,000 petitions to parliament for tougher sentences for child cruelty.

I have created a Just Giving page for anyone that would like to make a donation towards making Tony's (affectionately known as 'Little Bear') future a better one.

Thank you in advance for your kind support .