Having had nearly a life time away from organised sport I have surprised myself, and most people who know me, and taken up running.

I have gone from hyperventilating after 1km a couple of years ago to this, my biggest challenge of 21km. I was given the race entry by my husband for Christmas and, initally, I was very resistant - a bottle of perfume would have been a perfectly acceptable alternative gift.

Since then, I have had to put in lots of hard work: I have seen a lot of London, got lost a few times and I have surprised myself to find out that if you don't chat so much you can actually run a little bit further.

I am running for the Sickle Cell Society. Very sadly, a little girl in the school where I teach died early this year.  Obviously, this was devastating for her family and the whole school community. We, as a school, are doing  lots of fundraising and I hope my efforts can put a few more pennies in the jar.

Please dig deep and I'll do my best.

This girl can!!!