I did this last November (2017) for the first time and have been thinking about whether to do it again this year. At 05:30 on 1st November 2018 I have decided to go for it again..... I have that choice, my daughter Ava and many others don’t. I have copied my story from last year below as I cannot think of a better way to put it right now. Any donations any of you wish to make will be gratefully received. Thank you in anticipation:

My daughter Ava amazes me. I am so proud of her every day. Ava has Glut 1 Deficiency Syndrome. Her brain does not have enough "special doorways" that are able to let glucose in. This means that Ava cannot have a normal carbohydrate diet where the body and brain obtains its energy from glucose. Ava has to obtain her energy from fat (ketones) and to do this she has to be on a special medically prescribed ketogenic diet for life. This diet is high fat, adequate protein and low carbohydrate and is very carefully calorie controlled - every gram of food Ava eats has to be counted and weighed carefully. Ava refers to this as her "magic food"

I will never run a marathon or even 5 or 10k. I am unlikely to climb a mountain or jump from a plane. I'm. Not much for cycling or shaving my hair! But this is something I believe I can and will do for Ava and Matthew's Friends a charity that continues to help and support us so much. 

I am very over weight, I am a chocoholic, I love cakes, ice cream and pretty much anything also full of refined sugar so for the month of November I will go without.... and as I struggle with the withdrawal effects and the cravings I will remember, Ava and many others have no choice and do this each and every day of their life. Please consider sponsoring me, to support Matthew's friends and all the work they do support families with Glut 1 DS, Intractable Epilepsy and other illnesses where the Ketogenic diet is the only treatment available.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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