Well I did it!!! I managed to finish in 5 hours 1 minute and 44 seconds! I feel really proud of myself and still a bit surreal now post-marathon. How will I fill my evenings now I don't have to run 30-40 miles per week???

The day went fantastically- I started of with a good pace and reached mile 14 without too much bother. After that point as it got hotter and hotter things got a lot harder and my pace really slowed down BUT I managed to run the whole way (apart from queuing for 10mins at one point to use the toilet!!). Things got really really hard at mile 24 and if it wasn't for the fact that I was really proud of myself and that I could see big ben so knew I was close and had the crowds cheering I think I would have stopped. I felt like I ran 2 races: mile 1-24 and mile 24-26.2!!

Crossing that line was the most amazing feeling in the world and I really don't mind my whole body hurting today (2 days after) because I know what I've acheived.

This page will still take donations for another 2 months so if you haven't sponsored me yet but reading about my experience has made you want to then please please help me raise as much as I can for VAO. It really is an amazing charity and makes such a difference to thousands of peoples lives on each trip.

I recently went on a VAO direct service trip from 17th to 31st of January. We went to Burkina Faso and tested over 5300 patients and dispensed approximately 4900 pairs of spectacles. Seeing what the charity does first hand has really spurred me on to raise as much money as I can to further support their essential work. Please please dig deep in your pockets, every little helps to give the gift of sight.

What your money could buy:

£3 could pay for an eye test and a pair of spectacles for a child in Ethiopia.

£10 could pay for five pairs of spectacles to be glazed in Sierra Leone.

£21 could pay for an hour of traing of an optical worker in Zambia.

£150 could pay for an entire day of sight testing in Ghana.

£7500 could pay for an entire 2 week project in Uganda. Vision Aid Overseas could reach over 1500 patients!!!

Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Vision Aid Overseas gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now!