I am running the London Marathon to raise money for the Lily Foundation, whose mission is to find a cure for mitochondrial disease.

When a person has mitochondrial disease, the mitochondria in the cells within your body don't produce enough energy to fuel the cell. As cells make up every organ and tissue in the body, without enough energy to function, these tissues and organs cannot work properly. Logically, the most common parts of the body affected by mitochondrial disease are those that have the highest energy demands; the brain, muscles, liver, heart and kidneys.

The Lily Foundation was set up in memory of Lily Anna Merritt, who died at just 8 months old from mitochondrial disease. With little known about the disease and other metabolic disorders, Lily's family decided to set up the Lily Foundation to help raise awareness and fund research into the condition.

Now I personally know about the Lily Foundation because I work with Lily's Uncle, John. Since Lily died, I have seen the massive effect her death from this disease has had on his whole family. But what has been so amazing - and what has led me to want to support them in this way - is how such an awful event has been used to create something so positive. Lily's Mum, Liz, talks about the inner strength and fighting spirit that Lily showed during her short time on earth, and it is that spirit and and strength that Liz and the whole family bring to the Lily Foundation. They are such a wonderful family, and the way in which they have thrown everything into raising awareness of mitochondrial disease and supporting those who going through similar experiences, is truly inspirational. And so I want to follow their lead and find some inner strength and fighting spirit of my own and run the London Marathon.

It really is a fantastic cause, and any donation you could make really would make a difference to the Lily Foundation's work. In under 3 years they have raised nearly £300,000 towards the £400,000 they need to fund a new gene-testing programme at Guy & St. Thomas' Hospital, which will be used in research units all over the UK. Your donation will help fund this desperately needed programme, and take the giant steps needed to find a cure for this disease.

If you would like to read more about Lily's story and the work of the Lily Foundation, please go to www.thelilyfoundation.org.uk