Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have been allocated a place in the London Marathon 2018 by a charity that holds a very special place in my heart - Mary Ann Evans Hospice. I am certainly not a distance runner and I have never attempted anything like this before, so it's really unclear how I plan to get through the bitterly cold winter with my trainers on rather than a onesie and slippers. Brushing those fears aside, I have pledged to help Mary Ann Evans and its wonderful staff raise as much money as possible by pounding the streets of London for 26.2 miles. I will only be able to do that with your help!

Some of you already know the reasons behind this choice of charity, however for those that don't, please read on. My Dad, Bernie, Bernard, lost his fight to cancer just shy of 12 months from the date he was diagnosed. At the start of 2017, he was given only a matter of weeks to live, but bravely fought on throughout January and February. Our hearts were broken on 10th March when he died at home in my mum's arms.

Dad was hard working, fun loving and always made me laugh (well nearly always). He loved to be outside in the garden with his flocks of pigeons and a glass of red, but sometimes he would spend time with my mum, particularly when he was hungry! He was very passionate about his family and friends and always had time for a tea, a chat about politics and a box of Thorntons chocolate toffees.

I adored Bern and I'm what you would describe as a "Daddy's Girl" and undoubtedly always will be. Throughout my life, most people have taken great delight in reminding me that I am my father's daughter. If that's the case, then why am I not smart and good at tiling?!? Not a day passes when I don't think about him, or miss him or even have the odd word with him. I've no doubt that he is sat on my shoulder saying the same things about me.

I refer to the team at Mary Ann Evans as 'My Angels'. Without the special nurses and carers from the Hospice, along with the district nurses and others who helped us, my family would not have coped with the final weeks of palliative care. This level of exemplary service enabled Bern, my mum and extended family to have the most memorable times at home. Not only that, but they also supported us through the unfortunate traumatic times. I will be forever grateful to each and every one of my angels.

With that in mind, please help me raise as much money as possible - the Hospice is only able to help families with the aid of charity money. Without this, the team would simply cease to exist. I run the London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April 2018. Please look out for me on tv; I'll be the one at the back next to the bloke dressed up as Superman carrying a fridge.