Eleven years ago this month, my fabulous supervisor Mark Harmer gave me the opportunity run the Philadelphia half marathon with him. (At that time I don’t think I’d even run so much as a 5km!). It was amazing and painful in equal measure. I remember collapsing over the finish line and wondering how/why on earth anyone would want to run that entire distance AGAIN?

Well, I’m almost ready to find out. On Sunday 24th September I’m attempting to complete my first marathon - Loch Ness in Inverness. This is a really big deal for me, as Inverness was home to my Grandparents, Jack and Doris MacKay.

I am raising money for the Mackenzie Centre. Thanks to them, my Grandparents were able to remain living independently in their own home after my Grandad’s stroke. They really were wonderful, and provided both practical and emotional support – which gave my Grandad a new lease of life!

Thank you very much to everyone who’s supported me this far. It has been every bit as tough as I was warned it would be.