I'm running the 2016 London Marathon in April in aid of a close friend of mine.

In July last year, Sophie Williams fell critically ill with Japanese encephalitis – a mosquito-borne viral brain infection - during a research trip to China. She survived, against the odds, and is slowly beginning to recover thanks to the support of her family, friends and hospital staff. However, her illness has been life changing, most significantly leaving her paralysed and unable to breathe on her own.

Sophie currently needs 24-hour hospital care, but in the not-too-distant future she will be allowed to move back home with her partner, Robert. She is a thoroughly outdoorsy-type, and key to her recovery will be getting out in the wild North Wales countryside. But to do this she will need specialist and expensive equipment, most importantly a robust outdoor wheelchair and an ultra-portable ventilator. This boost in accessibility will mean all the difference to how she experiences life.

I’m raising money to go towards buying this go-anywhere kit, so any donation you can give will help enormously in getting Sophie back outdoors.