In 2017 after numerous illnesses, my then-6-month-old son Jacob Burns was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that affected his immune system. The only possible treatment was for him to undergo a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant in September 2017 in the hope that it would cure his condition and save his life.

Over one year later and his procedure has thus far been successful, in part due to the amazing tireless work of The Bubble Foundation, a charity who work to save the lives of babies born with no immune system.

Money raised for this fantastic charity will fund vital research and in turn increase survival rates. Since formed, survival rates for the children who are treated on the Bubble Unit have risen initially from 50% to over 90%. Apart from the growing expertise of all staff, these great results are also attributable to the wide-ranging research activities, which have been focused upon improving the bone marrow transplant process and finding better ways of looking after patients post transplant, to seek to ensure fewer children die of complications. This has been achieved despite lack of formal research laboratory facilities and will benefit in the future from the recently established Stem Cell Laboratory.

Our fundraising aim is twofold, to help care for current patients and fund invaluable research into the condition to find more effective treatments and ultimately a cure.

My aim is to do the following:

1) The Harewood House off-road half marathon with Sam Hasson, Tom Howard & Chris Joynson. Widely recognised as one of the hardest half marathons in England, this extremely hilly route offers miles of muddy tracks, steep forest inclines and tree lined fields. This is not a standard road run and is not for the faint-hearted!

2) The London Marathon. 26.2 miles of pain. Bearing in mind I am not a natural runner, and my training and prep routines in the past have been known to be... 'lax', this is not simply a challenege that I am going to walk. This is going to destroy me! All the more reason for you to donate now!

Thanks to the lads for joining me on my challenege and thanks to everyone who donates to The Bubble Foundation.

Every donation you can make will make a difference.