Following a serious fall at Rockingham Horse Trials in 2015, my world was turned upside down. I suffered a diffuse axonal brain injury, broke multiple bones and have since been plagued by PTSD, anxiety and depression. Four years later, I am running the Paris marathon to raise money for the two places I owe my life to.

I spent the summer of 2015 in the Central England Rehabilitation Unit in Leamington, a specialist brain injury unit. Under their specialist care I went from being bed-bound, unable to speak, talk or eat to walking out of the hospital two months later after being discharged. When I think of CERU now I do so with a smile on my face; I attribute my miraculous turnaround to the love, care and expertise of the hospital staff. They taught me how to do everything again, but each step was a forward-looking one; never did they pity me or doubt I would get better. CERU is the most inspirational place and its mentality is one that I have adopted as my own.

However, raising money for just CERU felt wrong. Upon leaving CERU I spent many months at Oaksey House, a specialist sports rehabilitation centre. Having evented to a high level previously, I was not satisfied by merely being able to walk- I wanted to get back to elite competition. Oaksey House helped me regain my coordination, stamina and strength, all of which took a huge hit after my accident. The staff at Oaksey taught me how to train with a head injury, how to overcome my new deficiencies and come out stronger. Oaksey House reaffirmed my belief that adversity, no matter how serious, is never too great to overcome; that if you want something enough, work hard and smart enough for it, anything is possible.

It was not deemed medically realistic that I could make the recovery I have, and this reality is a result of the work of CERU and Oaksey House. To be able to give back to these two places means everything to me. Knowing money raised will go towards helping people in similar situations I was in provides all of the motivation I need to get through 26 miles.