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Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular, degenerative, genetic disorder that causes weakness to every voluntary muscle in the body.

It affects an individuals ability to move, cough, swallow, and even breathe.

There is currently no treatment and no cure for SMA.

SMA is the number 1 genetic killer of infants under 2 years old.

SMA is present in 1 in 6000 births.

1 in 40 people unknowingly carry the gene responsible for the disease.

The NIH (national institute of health) selected SMA as a disease closest to finding a treatment of more than 600 neurological disorders; this is why it is so important to fundraise for the SMA Trust who financially support clinical trials and research.

The SMA Trust is the only UK charity dedicated solely to funding medical research in SMA. http://www.smatrust.org/the-sma-trust/

Over the next 2 years I plan to run 3 distances, doubling each time, to help raise finds and awareness of SMA. My aim for this race is £300 however I hope for my accumulated total to be over £2000. 

July 13th 2014 I am running my first distance; the London 10K. This will be followed by a half marathon in 2015 and finishes with a full marathon in 2016. SO FOLLOW MY PROGRESS!

I met Anna when we were both 6 years old at primary school. At this time she was able to walk with the help of a frame. Each lunchtime I would attend physio sessions to keep her company. Through the years I have seen her go from using a walking frame, to a manual wheelchair and now an electric wheelchair. At 10 years of age I visited Anna whilst she was spending a month in hospital for spinal surgery, a common procedure for patients with SMA now, although at the time this was not a regular procedure and the risks were unknown. Anna has had many surgical procedures since to allow her to live the life she has today. 

Anna is fortunate that she has a type of SMA that means she can go through daily activities but with the help of others. However the majority (approx 70%) are born with the condition have the most severe and do not make it to their 2nd birthday. The only hope families have is that research is being done everyday to find a cure.  

All money raised will be going towards funding research to find a treatment or even better, a cure. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.