Hi,

On 25th April 2010, I will be undertaking probably my biggest challenge to date - WALKING the London Marathon!  Not hard, I hear you say.  I, too, would have said that until the beginning of last year, when I was diagnosed with Congenital Hip Dysplasia - yes, that's right, shallow hip sockets which I had had since birth!  I underwent major hip socket reconstruction on my left hip on May 20th, 2009, and then 5 months and 8 days later, on October 28th, 2009, I repeated the operation on my right hip.  Each operation has entailed being on crutches for 12 weeks, and then basically relearning how to walk again, which takes about another 3 months.  So if you calculate correctly, you will see that I will just be at the point of having relearnt to walk for the start of the Marathon!  It is a huge challenge, and one that my surgeon just shook his head at, but you know me, once I get the bit between the teeth, I just don't give up!

This time, though, I will have company - Phil is walking it with me, and together we are raising money for STEPS, a wonderful charity dedicated to helping those with lower limb disabilities - Hip Dysplasia included.  It is normally diagnosed in childhood, if not at birth, so how I managed to get to 46 years of age, and run 7 marathons, let alone countless 1/2 marathons, 20 milers etc. we have no idea.  The only thing my surgeon could say was that my fitness had probably 'held me together'!!! 

Please support our madness and donate to a very worthwhile cause.  I always thought it was just dogs that got Dysplasia - apparently not!  It affects 1 in 1000 women, and 1 in 3000 men, and in later life it is difficult to diagnose.  If left undiagnosed, it can be totally debilitating with arthritis setting in.  I was lucky and I would like to share that luck with others.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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