On 25th February 2018 I’m participating in the Thorpe Park Half Marathon in order to fundraise for Bedelsford School, an amazing special school that provides innovative education and a stimulating environment for pupils aged 2 to 19, who have a wide range of physical disabilities, including profound and multiple learning difficulties and complex health needs.

Over a year ago now I started a nanny job, taking care of two (now 3!) wonderful girls. Shortly after I started, Olivia (Livi) (pictured above) was diagnosed with having ‘microcephally pontocerebellar hypoplasia with Cask gene mutation’ (MICPCH); this is an extremely rare condition, which has been diagnosed in fewer than 100 children world-wide. Children with this condition have severe global development delay and typically means they are non-verbal, unable to walk and are totally dependent on others for their care. Looking after a child with additional needs was quite new to me, but I very quickly realised that her diagnosis in no way defines Livi: she is the very same cheerful girl I had been getting to know, an absolute ray of sunshine to everyone around her.

Livi now attends Bedelsford School in Kingston, which despite nannying in the area for 10 years I had never previously heard of. However, I very quickly came to see that it is an excellent school, where the staff provide exceptional care, support and love to children with a huge range of physical difficulties and complex health needs. It is such a positive environment, where all children are supported to be the best they can be.

My aim is to raise money to help Bedelsford to continue to provide Livi and all of the other pupils with specialist equipment, activities and experiences that are so valuable to their development and quality of life.

Those of you that know me will understand that I’m by no means a natural runner, and after various set backs have only very recently found the confidence and determination to give it another go. Therefore this is a considerable challenge I’m undertaking, and your support for this very worthy cause would help steel my resolve!

More information on Bedelsford School can be found at http://www.bedelsfordschool.org.

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