I applied for a place for London Marathon 2016 last year, and was very lucky indeed to get a place through the ballot for the fourth time.

In a year eventful for numerous reasons however, my grandma Ms. Chan Yuk Chun sadly passed away a month before the event, after a long battle with stroke and colon cancer. I have deferred my entry and planned to run in 2017 in her memory instead.

Little did I know in the few months to come, I would unexpectedly also lose two dear friends - a successful Colorectal Surgeon in Hong Kong who I used to sit next to at school; and a Consultant Radiologist colleague whose office in Kent I shared for 4 years.

I would like to dedicate my run in 2017 to all three of them. As they have fought different battles, it has taken me a while to set my mind on which charity to support.

I have finally decided to run for a local cause - the Children's Critical Care Appeal at my workplace Wexham Park Hospital, Frimley Health NHS Trust.

The aim of the appeal is to provide the highest level critical care to children in their local hospital. The Trust has already completed the build of the unit in 2016 at a cost of £1.25 million, and the appeal is focusing on equipping this new facility with items above and beyond NHS provision, including furnishings for the 4 new parents' bedrooms.

Please do support me in my run and support this wonderful cause, which will benefit many children and their parents in the long run.

Training is more tricky nowadays with two young ones at home. There is no remote chance of a PB and I will be so happy to complete the Marathon (in under 5 hours hopefully)!

You could however help me beat my previous fundraising record (£1800 for St Mark's Hospital in Harrow in 2007)!

Many thanks for your support in advance!!!

Emily xxx

Consultant Radiologist, Wexham Park Hospital (Frimley Health NHS Trust)