I can't say I've ever really taken to long-distance running. Sure there is the odd jog where you think you could give Mo Farah a *ahem* run for his money, but for the most part it's gruelling, lonesome, and ever so slightly sadistic. In an effort to shed the COVID protective layer of fat I'd lovingly cultivated over lockdown, my New Year's resolution last year was to do 10,000 steps a day which was miraculously achieved. Unfortunately it drew attention to worsening mobility and increasing pain in my club foot. Realising my pain-free running days may be numbered, I decided a marathon would be a decent enough challenge. (To put this into context, the only New Year's resolution I've kept this year is not eating McDonalds, and when I tell you I miss chicken nuggets...).

My chosen charity is Sportin MS, founded and run by the Trinidadian hero that is Antoinette Bunyan. Antionette has known me forever and been exposed to all my trials, tribulations, and general escapades from school, to university, and beyond. For those who have met her, you'll know she's far from easy to forget. Brilliant dancer, infectious laugh, and life of the party. So when I found out she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) it came as more than a shock.

Not one to let life get the better of her, Antoinette founded Sportin MS in 2019.

The charity's premise is simple; provide the same level of mental and emotional support to MS patients that cancer patients currently have access to through charities such as Marie Curie and MacMillan.

This support requires two resources:

1. Top class health practitioners able to provide advice and counselling

2. An accessible facility able to host patients regardless of their level of mobility 

As you can imagine, health professionals and accessible buildings don't come cheap. With Antoinette's love of sport, fundraising thus far has been organised through sports clubs throughout south east England.

Now the proverbial baton has fallen to me and 26.2 miles of London tarmac...

Some of you may know I've done my fair share of fundraising in the past (fashion shows, polo tournaments, even hitchhiking to Budapest), however all of those were for large, nationally-recognised, somewhat faceless charities. Sportin MS is neither large, nor nationally-recognised. Instead, it's a small, independent charity, run by an incredible woman who continually seeks to ensure every pound donated has a direct impact in making the lives of MS patients a little less daunting through community and support.

Please donate what you can, then come and laugh at me limp around London for a number of hours.