I am a children's nurse working on the Rainforest Ward at the Diana Princess of Wales hospital in Grimsby. I am running the London Marathon (26.2 miles) on Sunday the 28th April. Nothing is scarier for a parent than having a sick child in hospital. Unfortunately some children are in hospital for long periods of time, and as we only have 6 parent beds/recliners on an 18 bed ward (many of which are damaged or torn), that means 70% of parents have to sleep on a chair or even the floor when the ward is at full capacity. This leaves parents feeling mentally and physically drained, sleep deprived, and extremely run down, making it more difficult for them to cope with the stresses and strains of life with their child in hospital.

I want to raise money for the children's ward to ensure that the experience for parents is a lot more comfortable by providing beds/recliners for every parent that is resident on the ward with their poorly child. With parents being able to have a restful nights sleep, this will boost their morale and will help them cope much better for their day ahead. We are always aiming for a better child and parent experience and we believe this would improve the quality of family centred care we provide. Please sponsor me in running the London Marathon for this great cause.