As you may be aware I have managed to get a ballot position in this year’s London Marathon. I have now been given the all clear to run after my shoulder operation and I have decided not to defer my entry but to give this race a go.

This year is the 10^th anniversary of the passing of my wonderful mother, who was taken away from us far too soon.  My mother, Olga, suffered with a terrible and rare disease called systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). I took this loss very badly and found myself in a dark place. Running has given me focus and helped me to deal with the bereavement and while I still miss my mum, I know that she is now at peace and not in pain. So with this in mind, I am going to run this race in my mother’s memory and at the same time try and raise some money for the Scleroderma Society UK (SRUK) who gave us support and advice through the tough times.

I am aware that this time of the year we are bombarded with sponsorship requests and there are many worthwhile charities all looking for our support,  but if you would consider supporting me and the Scleroderma Society, I would be more than grateful.

Information on Scleroderma can be found on the SRUK website –

https://www.sruk.co.uk/