Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have decided to run the Great Scottish Half Marathon to help raise money for Revive, a charity which has become very close to my heart because of the work and facilities they help fund in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

I must admit that I had never heard of the charity before May when my Mum was admitted to the ICU unit in the Royal with a sub-anachroid Hemmoriage in the brain. This was life threatening and a very difficult time for the family.

The staff in the ICU and HDU are nothing short of amazing! With a one nurse to one patient ratio it is important that people continue to raise funds so to keep this ratio possible for patients to get the care they need and deserve and also to give family the confidence that their loved ones are in the best place and getting the best care possible.

Thanks to the fantastic care and attention by the nurses, doctors and consultants in the ICU and HDU my Mum was soon transferred to the Neurology ward in the hospital where she continued to get excellent specialist care.

Mum was soon transferred back to her local hospital and now is in reciept of Community care and continues to progress and get stronger.

However, I have no doubt that without the initial excellent care in the ICU and HDU from all the staff that she may not have recovered as quickly and be home with us getting her life back on track.

I thought I would do this run as its something I have never done before and will most certainly be a challenge.

I would hope that people will donate / sponsor me to do the run in order not only to help raise money but also awareness of the charity. This charity is like a hidden charity that you only come across when you are immediately affected which is unfortunate. This ICU / HDU takes patients from all over the North of Ireland and further afield. They care for up to 1500 seriously ill patients each year and provide an outstanding service with family rooms available for families staying out of the locality, 1-2-1 nursing 24/7 and and open, caring and empathethic approach to the families immediately involved.

Please donate whatever you can, it will be very much appreciated.

Thank you

Declan