On Sunday 12th October 2014, I will be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in memory of Aidan Pond and to support the Lily foundation.

Aidan was 19 months old when he tragically passed away on the 1st of March 2014. He was the son of our close friends Lucy and Simon, and best friend of my two children, Lucas (2) and Victoria (4), who share the same ages as Aidan and Evelyn (Aidan's sister).

Just before his first birthday, Aidan was diagnosed with a rare disease called Mitochondrial Disease. When a person has Mitochondrial Disease, the Mitochondria in the cells are not able to produce enough energy which means the body's organs cannot function properly. There are no effective cures or treatments for this disease.

Following his diagnosis, Aidan spent the next 8 months in the care of the Evelina Children's Hospital in London and the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton. The family was given support by the Lily foundation.

1 in 200 healthy newborns in the UK are born with genetic changes that can cause Mitochondrial Disease.

I am running this half marathon to raise money for the Lily foundation, a charity supporting families of children with mitochondrial disease and helping fund pioneering research into a cure for this debilitating life threatening disease. Please sponsor me so that the Lily foundation can continue to support children and families.

Aidan's story can be found here:  http://www.thelilyfoundation.org.uk/our-inspirations/aidan-pond/

You can read more about the Lily Foundation here:   http://www.thelilyfoundation.org.uk

Thank you very much in advance for any support you are able to give.