I'm running the London Landmarks Half Marathon on 24th March to raise money for The Migraine Trust.

My  story

I have suffered from migraines for most of my life and am therefore deeply motivated to do whatever I can to raise awareness of this often very misunderstood disease, and what better way than to do a bit of running past London's most famous landmarks!

What exactly are migraines? 

• Migraines are a complex neurological disorder that affect 1 in 5 women and 1 in 15 men.
• They typically appear in late childhood and can be either chronic (> 15 attacks per month) or episodic (<15 attacks per month).
• Attacks can last between 4 to 72 hours and are characterised by a severe pain down one side of the head as well as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light, movement and sound.
• Migraines are a genetic condition with attacks often thought to be triggered by a vast array of environmental stimuli that cannot always be controlled by the sufferer (food, drink, too much or too little sleep, stress, hormones). 
• Due to the unpredictable and pervasive nature of the condition, migraines have the potential to significantly impact a person's work, their relationships and overall quality of life. 

The Migraine Trust

Charities like The Migraine Trust are so important as they campaign to promote research into migraines and to reduce their overall burden on sufferer's lives. This is particularly crucial given that despite migraines being ranked globally as the seventh most disabling disease among all diseases (and costing the NHS £150 million annually) migraines remain the least researched of all neurological illnesses in Europe. 

Many thanks in advance for your kind donation. I promise in return to give you a rare sighting of the reddest face to ever be recorded in the history of a person doing some moderate exercise!

Eimear xx