LITTLE did we realise when our friend, Paula, was a bridesmaid at our wedding more than 10 years ago that we would be helping her to raise £1 million to find a cure for her daughter, Martha.

With her curly blonde hair, big smile and infectious laugh, Martha is like many other three-year-old girls - she loves dressing up and given half the chance she would permanently wear a fairy costume.

Martha only got to celebrate her birthday properly for the first time last year. Martha, who has FSGS, one of the many diseases that affects kidney function, spent both her first and second birthdays in hospital.

She now has less than five years until her kidneys fail completely and will then spend the rest of her life on dialysis. Although a kidney transplant may be an option, there is only a 30 per cent chance of success because Martha also has an important gene missing which causes her immune system to attack her kidneys.

That's why in February this year, Martha's parents, Paula and Dan launched an ambitious £1 million appeal with Kidney Research UK to find a cure for Martha. We are trying to do our bit to help by taking part in the Great Manchester Run on Sunday May 18th.

We are currently in training for the 10km run and are feeling much fitter for the experience as well as looking forward to the big day.

Please dig deep and sponsor us. Raising funds for kidney research will help find a cure for Martha and many others like her, giving them hope for a better future.