My daughter Emily was born with an upper limb deficiency in 2010, her left arm ceasing just after her elbow.

Since she was 9 months old we have attended orthopedic hospitals in Ireland and in England with a view to seeing what types of prosthetics were available to her. In 2010 my husband Pat and I left an Orthopedic hospital in Ireland with the terrible realisation that if Emily went down the line of prosthetic that operated like a hand, affordability was a massive concern.

Emily has tried two prosthetic arms to date but has not taken to them as although they were extremely well made they were in effect dolls hands and more cumbersome than useful.

Then one day on a visit to a local country park we were approached by one of the members of Team Unlimbited, Drew, who told us about their work and how they could help Emily. Shortly after we attended the annual Reach Weekend (organisation that supports kids with Emily's limb difference) and Team Unlimbited were present displaying their amazing mechanical arms for the first time and they were surrounded by people. Suddenly there was a mechanical hand that was potentially available to Emily and was shockingly FREE!! Team Unlimbited are an amazing organisation consisting of two men who voluntarily design and build these 3D printed mechanical arms for children with upper limb deficiencies. For more information see www.teamunlimbited.org/.

Having watched so many children receive this mechanical arm on the Team Unlimbited blog we recently received news that Emily is next on the list to obtain one.

I am running this half marathon with my lovely friend Becky Stewart and hope in doing so we can raise some money to go towards the amazing work carried out by Team Unlimbited.