So, I'm (attempting!!!!) to run my first ever half marathon in about 5 weeks time and am trying to raise as much money as possible on behalf of my friend Natalie and her husband Al...

In September 2016 Al was involved in a very serious motorbike accident - the following is an account from Natalie of what happened on that awful day.

"Al went out for a ride with some of his friends, when a BMW X5 got bored of waiting in traffic and pulled out in front of him. The crash was horrendous. The medical staff at the scene didn't think Al would make it to hospital, despite him being airlifted. Al arrived at St. George's and immediately had lots of people running around him. I wasn't allowed to see him as he had so many serious injuries - they said it would be too distressing. I had to sit and wait for what felt like hours. Finally the consultant came and spoke to me and told me all of Al's injuries; a broken shoulder, 7 broken ribs, 2 punctured and deflated lungs, a lacerated liver, a torn bowl, damaged kidneys, damaged spleen, and a very serious brain injury - they didn't expect him to make it through the night.

Al came out of surgery and I found him sedated and connected to every machine that I think ICU owned. About 2 weeks after the accident, I was taken into a room and told that Al had a Diffuse Axonal Injury - one of the most severe forms of brain injury, with only a 10% survival rate and of those that do, a vegetative state for the rest of their lives. The consultant then asked me what I wanted to do. I had to chose between letting Al die or fighting for him. I chose to fight!

Al was then moved to Wrexham Park Hospital and in January he had to have further emergency surgery. Again I was told he was going to die. He was due to spend 10 days in ICU, but in actual fact was only there for 17 hours and 45 minutes - which shows just how strong he is.

Al is now over his internal injuries, but he still has his brain injury to overcome. He has to learn to do EVERYTHING again. From learning to swallow, to speaking, to walking. The rehab centre that he is currently in has limited funding and if they don't get the tracheostomy out, before the funding runs out, then he cant go onto Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre and will be sent to a nursing home or home with me. Either way I will have to fund private rehab which is a minimum of £3.5k per week, with a minimum 2 months payment upfront. I'm trying to do anything and everything I can to ensure that Al gets what he needs to be the best that can ever be again!!"

I will be running the Bristol Half Marathon, on Sunday 17th September. All donations are hugely appreciated (so thank you very much in advance!!!) and all funds raised will go towards getting Al the rehabilitation that he really needs to overcome his injuries.

Thank you.

Alex xx