I started working in Clarawood School 25 years ago. I first walked through the doors on the same day it opened to the children.

We care for, educate and mentor children with wide ranging emotional and behavioural difficulties, coming from all backgrounds across Belfast.

Before the children can learn they have to know and believe that they are cared for in a safe and understanding environment.

This is something I truly believe my friends and colleagues are amazing at, I know first hand.

Twelve years ago I was first diagnosed with cancer and they helped and supported me through it. Three years ago, a different cancer, again they nurtured and cared for me.

Two years ago I took up running and I said that my first long race I would raise money for the school, my small way of giving back to the people that helped me.

That brings us closer to present day. Late 2018 I booked a race in Milton Keynes and began training for the last 6 months for a 5k on Sunday 5 May and a half marathon on the bank holiday Monday. A challenge of a lifetime for most but especially me given my age.

Unfortunately I have just been diagnosed with cancer again.

I still plan to run. I still plan to train. I intend to keep going until I am not fit to do so.

If due to my recent diagnosis I am unable to run, my daughter Hannah and my 2 training friends Paula and Sharon are going to run on my behalf.

I will be gutted if I don’t get the medals, but a waterfall for our sensory garden and being able to give something back to the people that helped so much me will make up for it.

I write this to ask for you to sponsor me, for my best intentions to make this run, or to sponsor my friends and family who run on my behalf.

But believe me. I will do everything to make this run.

Thank you

Friends of Clarawood is a registered Charity supporting Clarawood School and Outreach Support Service and provides support across the Greater Belfast area