Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. And before I continue thank you to Nick and Karen, and also Mart who have made generous offline donations and have asked me to 'Keep on Running'! That I certainly will do Nick!

Children's hospices support children and young people who are expected to die before reaching adulthood, and their families. Due to the hereditary nature of many of the children's illnesses, some families may have more than one affected child. In many cases there is no cure. In others, treatment has been tried but failed and the focus has transferred from active to palliative care.

When a diagnosis is given which offers no hope or where treatment is abandoned, families often feel very isolated and alone in their grief. Many of the conditions from which the children suffer deteriorate slowly over a number of years, placing an enormous strain on family life. Often the child will need constant care throughout the day and night and whilst families willingly invest their total love, energy and attention into caring for their sick child, they can and do become exhausted. Healthy brothers and sisters often feel left out as attention focuses on the sick child.

Children's hospices provide the necessary short breaks and a range of services benefiting the children and young people themselves and their wider family, which are simply not available elsewhere.

I first became aware of Demelza via my nephew, Ollie, who has been fortunate enough to be able to use the Demelza facilities throughout his short life until he passed away on the morning of Boxing Day 2009 in Demelza House, Eltham, in the arms of his mother, my sister, Katie. The care that they have provided to him, my family and many other families, is outstanding, exceptional and extremely valuable. But this extraordinary facility relies heavily on funding so that it may be able to continue its much-needed work which is why I have got my running shoes out! And anyone who knows me well will appreciate that this is a BIG DEAL!!!