Back in 2006 I qualified as a nurse, a second career for me. I began my nursing career as a surgical nurse, but along the way life threw a number of challenges in my direction. This had a profound impact on how I was as a nurse and what quality of life meant to a patient/ person. Imagine having something as simple as putting your socks on in the morning taken away from you or the ability to play with your children.

When Life throws an unexpected challenge or life has just been generally unfair/ cruel, people turn to a number of things to soothe and comfort, this could be alcohol, drugs, food, sport, the list goes on. Some of these coping strategies can and do lead to long term health problems. I turned to running. Those who know me well, know that this has kept me healthy, focussed, sane (that is questionable when I am about to run 100 miles in under 30 hours) but for some this is not the case.

As a direct result of personal experience and being a nurse I now work with a group of patients that have been affected by what I have just described, leading to a long term health condition that has impacted their quality of life and causing them to be stigmatised and not accepted within society and a long term struggle with weight.

However; through taking a hard and long journey working with a supportive team of doctors, nurses, dietitians, psychologist, they have been able to take positive steps in addressing their weight and in doing so have been able to reverse long term health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and mental health problems. More importantly for this group of patients they now have a quality of life and have been accepted back into society.

For my patients they have recognised that peer support is one of the most valuable tools in helping them long term with managing their weight and the impact that this has on health and wellbeing. As a result a support group was set up by the patients, which as one of their health professionals who works with them is also involved with. This runs once a month and currently supported by the local ‘green taverns club ‘at Plymouth football club ‘Plymouth Argyle’ The venue up until recently has never charged the support group for the use of the hall. Unfortunately due to financial restraints, they now have to charge the support group to use the hall.

We have been asked to pay £650 a year, which is actually not that much, other venues would charge us far more. So on Saturday the 15th September I am using my love of running to run 100 miles nonstop in under 30 hours through Sherwood Forest running the Robin Hood 100 race and in doing so I would like to use this possible insane challenge to support my patients in trying to raise the required funds to keep their support group running. So if you would like to sponsor me then you are helping my patients.

So by the time this page could go live , i have completed Robin Hood 100 in 24hrs 20 mins , it was probably one of the hardest things i have done but what a journey , so please support me and my tiread feet and my patients ,