Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

My first Marathon will be just short of 2 years since my first
run when I struggled to run around the block. I am excited but terrified to take on this distance and possibly a bit mad to have chosen to do it on my 40^th birthday.  I love to run and it has become such a big
part of my life, I have made some fantastic friends and it has kept me sane, I’m not sure how I functioned before running came into my life.

This description is very similar to how I would describe what SWAN
UK means to me.  Through SWAN UK I have made so many friends, friends who understand the unique challenges of raising a child/children with an undiagnosed genetic condition and having this support network has changed my life.  It is perfect that my first Marathon falls on the weekend following Undiagnosed Children’s Day (Friday 24th April) when as a community we celebrate our fantastic, inspirational kids and fundraise for SWAN UK, the charity that supports us. 

I am Mammy to 4 lush little lasses, Edith, 9, Violet, 8 and twins Alba and Nell, 5.  When Violet was a baby she didn’t reach her developmental milestones when expected such as rolling, sitting and pulling to stand. She was referred to a physiotherapist at eleven months old and we were told she had hypermobility.  We took this as the answer to her difficulties and believed with physiotherapy intervention she would ‘catch up’.  When Violet was 28 months old Alba and Nell were born.  By then Violet was also delayed with her speech and language development and learning.  When Nell’s development was also delayed and she also had, like Violet, hypermobility, low muscle tone and episodes of hypoglycaemia, we started to think that their difficulties were part of a bigger picture.

We felt so confused and alone until meeting another mam who told
us about SWAN UK.

I am so proud to now be part of the SWAN UK team in my voluntary
position of Parent Rep, I love everything about my role but the best bit is organising regular events for our families to meet up, connect and support each other.  We have a wonderful network of families here in the North East but we desperately need funds in order to continue the work that we do.  For the first time in its 8 year history SWAN UK has no outside funding and is entirely dependent on fundraising.  Please support my family and other SWAN families, by making a donation if you can as sponsorship of my 40^th Birthday/Undiagnosed Children’s Day Marathon, eeeeeeeeeeek!!!

xxxx Thanks so much, Rachael xxxx

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