In April 2016 my partner Jon was diagnosed with a one in million immune disease which was not treatable. He went from just feeling tired to having complete renal failure in the space of 1 month. The doctors at Royal Derby Hospital tried a number of different treatments but the disease was too aggressive. Jon now has to have dialysis 5 times a week for 7 hours each session.

Throughout the last 18 months we have had a lot of ups and downs, many months spent in hospital and every time we thought things were getting better another problem arose. A few months ago Jon had to go for some tests to check if he was fit to be on the kidney transplant list. However, instead of getting the all clear we expected, they found that he needed an aortic valve and aortic stent replacement. It was a massive shock to all of us. He had the heart surgery a month after they discovered the heart condition which they believe had been aggravated by dialysis. He had complications and had to stay in ICU for over a week followed by a further 3 weeks on the ward. Jon's heart is still recovering from the surgery 5 months later. It will now take much longer before he can get on the kidney transplant list.

Before his illness, Jon had been cycling competitively for over 21 years including being a national champion as a junior and at under 23 level. It was Jon who got me into cycling. He has been fit and healthy all his life which makes it even harder for him to accept the realities and limitations of his new lifestyle. This situation has also been incredibly difficult for our 2 year old son Oliver, who does not understand why his daddy cannot play with him in the same way that he used to or why he is so often away from home for dialysis or hospital treatment.

DRCS (mental health)- Last years events has put a massive strain on our family and I have been fighting stress and depression for some time. I had to take care of our little boy, visits to hospital and fulltime job. I am normally very strong personality and have gone through a lot but last 2 years did brake me. I started noticing how much my depression changed me and my behaviour. I went to see my doctor and was referred to DRCS. I wasn't with them for long but they gave me a massive support when I needed someone to listen. Since I discharged myself from there services I decided I need to give something back.

I would love to raise money for both Charities as they are both close to our family heart's. I had to join both charities together so that i could split any monay raised between them.

I would like to say massive thank you for taking time to reading my story and any money raised will go to a good cause!