I was lucky enough to get a place in the ballot to run the London Marathon.

Although you don’t have to fundraise just because you win a place in the race, for me it is an opportunity to raise some money for a charity that means a lot to me and my family. So I am running for “Shine”, a charity that supports sufferers of Spina Bifida and related conditions. One of my two younger sisters was born with Spina Bifida, and she, like many others with this condition, has had a really tough time with it over the last couple of years. In some respects, my sister has been very lucky, but we don’t know what the future holds. She has also been incredibly brave and my family and I are so very proud of her and thankful to the doctors who have treated her.

I hope my raising some money and also some awareness around the condition will really encourage her to continue to be as brave and tough no matter what the next few years might throw at her. I also hope the money can be used by this incredible charity to assist many others in the same position.

So these are my main reasons for asking you to part with some of your hard-earned cash. In addition, I have been training incredibly hard, so this is a personal challenge for me too and your support will also help to spur me on. I am incredibly nervous, anxious and excited all at the same time!

It doesn’t matter how small your donation, everything will be really really appreciated:  by me, by my family and particularly by Shine, my nominated charity

xx