Having been inspired to undertake (and subsequently complete) the NHS 'Couch to 5K' programme, I have recently become a convert to the world of running! Never before did I think I could run and used to advise my kids that if they saw me running then they should run too as something is likely to be chasing me!

My goal is eventually to run a marathon (that may be a little in the future yet, but who knows, in February I couldn't run to the bottom of our drive!). With my new found love of running I decided I would put it to good use. I am currently enrolling on 10K races and so far have nine confirmed in the diary for the remainder of this year.

Update (05/08/19) - I've now added The GREAT BIRMINGHAM RUN, my first ever half marathon, on 13th October!

Update (21/09/19) - I've now booked on to the MILLENNIUM WAY 41 mile /66K Ultra Marathon on 1st March 2020!

Races in the diary:

Cannock Chase [10K trail] (04/08/19) - completed in 01h:02m:05s

RAF Cosford Spitfire Run [10K trail] (01/09/19) - completed in 00h:55m:29s

Lichfield [10K road] (08/09/19) - completed in 00h:54m:48s

Poppy Run [10K trail] (14/09/19) - completed in 00h:59m:49s

Stafford [10K road] (22/09/19) - completed in 00h:53m:05s

Tamworth [10K road] (06/10/19) - completed in 00h:55m:05s

The Great Birmingham Run [Half Marathon/21K road] (13/10/19) (shortened by the organisers due to a security incident) - completed in 01h:42m:45s

Remembrance Run [11K road] (11/11/19) - completed in 01h:05m:50s

Chasewater Christmas Pudding Dash [10K trail] (30/11/19) - completed in 01h:00m:59s

Millennium Way Ultra Marathon [42.8miles/68.88K] (01/03/20) - completed in 9hrs:32m:50s (including Check Point stops), 8hrs:41m running time

I am hoping to add more as they become available (and will update this post each time I book a new one in!). Each time I run I will be running for Carter and the 'Carter the Brave' charity.

About Carter ...

In January 2016 at only 4 years old Carter was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. It has been a long hard journey of gruelling chemotherapy, steroid treatment, lumbar punctures, spinal chemotherapy, countless procedures and scans. It is Carter’s bravery and strength that has kept his family going and inspired Lucy and Matthew to set up the ‘Carter the Brave’ charity.

The charity was set up in April 2016. Its aim is to help other children on this and similar journeys and to raise funds for both Birmingham Children’s Hospital and childhood cancer related causes. The total fund of the charity now stands at just over £160,000! The charity have won awards from BCH for being fundraisers of the year and are also frequently in the local media and enjoy quite a good Facebook following. Charity events have been so varied – gala balls, concerts, sales, kids fun days, sponsored runs, bed party; you name, they’ve done it!

So far the charity have purchased the handsfree Vocera system across ward and clinic, 3 IV Vein Finders, Mobile Ear & Throat Devices, DVD players & DVDs for clinic, 250 Amazon vouchers for the newly diagnosed and Lucy and Matthew were so pleased to donate £8000 to Round Table Children’s Wish which helps fulfil the dreams of children with cancer who are either critically or terminally ill. They have also just concluded talks with BCH about funding 7 mobile entertainment units for the ward.

There are no admin costs – 100% of this charity money goes directly to BCH and other childhood cancer related charities. The charity’s next focus is research – in particular causation and work towards gentler treatments for children like Carter. The treatment has been gruelling for Carter and other children and Lucy is desperately looking into research to make this better for other children. Carter is currently in remission, but the chance of relapse is quite high – 1 in 4 - so he is by no means out of the woods.

If you can spare a pound or two, that would be fantastic, if you can't, then just a share on social media would help!

Thank you all so much!

Jamie