Hi and thanks for visiting my fundraising page!

I'm going to be running the London Marathon on 13th April 2008 on behalf of HemiHelp, a charity whose aim is to raise awareness and provide information, assistance and support to children suffering from Hemiplegia and their families. 

Hemiplegia is an incurable neurological condition affecting one in every thousand children and causing a debilitating weakness in one side of the body. Whilst in some children, the symptoms are relatively mild, in others it can create both a serious lack of motor co-ordination and additional symptoms such as epilepsy and learning difficulties.

HemiHelp is a charity that supports these children and helps them to gain independence, freedom, companionship and confidence. Some of these children cannot even perform the simplest of tasks - using cutlery, dressing themselves or tying their shoelaces - let alone behave like normal kids. One of the many important things that they do is organise fun days for the children so that they can have the opportunity to participate in activities and sports that they are otherwise unable to do and that we take for granted. It seems appropriate that I am undertaking a very physical challenge to raise money to fight this condition - hopefully one day some of the children currently suffering will also be able to run!

HemiHelp are only a small charity and are not very well known. They don't receive a huge amount of support so I am determined to raise as much money as possible for them and increase awareness of their great work as much as I can. HemiHelp massively appreciate every penny donated to them so please please please spare any money you can for their cause. I would absolutely love to smash the £1500 fundraising target so anything you can do to help would be fantastic.

My sister ran the 2006 London Marathon in 4hrs 7mins so my ego has told me that I'm going have to finish it in under 3hrs 30mins! As this will be my first marathon I don't think I fully appreciate how hard that's going to be....ignorance is bliss, hahaha! Anyway, whatever happens I'm going to give it absolutely everything. If you are around London on the big day then do come along & support me and all of the other runners. The atmosphere is amazing - like nothing I've ever experienced - so I guarantee that if you're there you'll have a great day.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and completely secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: HemiHelp will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Also, I will be regularly updating an online training diary to detail my training progress and thoughts as I prepare for the Marathon. Please feel free to visit it and see how I'm getting on!!

Thanks ever so much for your support.