My plan is to complete the Great North Run 2016 in memory of my Mam.

I only got "into" running at the end of October 2015 - and in truth I hate running - but, to sound horrifically cliché, I've never felt better for it. I like to think it will help keep my heart strong, even though my Mam's wasn't.

My Mam died in May 2013 of an amalgamation of heart disease: angina, tunnelling arteries (something that could not have been diagnosed until her autopsy, unfortunately) and irregular heart beat - she was only 47 years old.

I was 20 when she passed away, but my little brother was only five.

We knew she had angina and her heart beat was irregular, however, the ultimate cause of her death came as a huge shock to us all, because it was something that they were unable to diagnose during her life.

So that's why I'm doing this. I'm doing it in hope one day children don't have to lose their parents before their time.

I'm following a 12 week 1/2 marathon plan and I can't believe how much stronger I felt after only week one. 

I've completed many 5k's but never done anything like this. 

Please donate, this will genuinely be one of the toughest things I've ever done in my life, since trying to deal with the grief of losing my Mam - nothing can compare to that.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.