Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Two years ago I had a heart attack at the age of 48. In hospital, one of the men on my ward said, "Ah yes, I remember my first heart attack." I asked him how many he was on now. "Number four," he said. 

More than anything, I think, that shocked me into doing something: I wanted my first one to be last one, and in a good way. I was 21 stone (nearly 300lbs for my American friends, or more than 133kg for my European chums) and unfit. With excellent support from my husband, friends, the Atrium rehabilitation service and the lovely Jane at Slimming World, I am now nearly 8 stone lighter at a much more healthy 13-ish stone (182lbs, 83kg).

Last September I took up running - another shock! Something I hated at 15, I seem to enjoy at 50 - and without the equivalent of 50 bags of sugar weighing me down, I can do it. So now, for the first time ever in my life, I am entering a race over 10km from Warwick Castle to Kenilworth Castle: the Two Castles Run. 

I am running on behalf of Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind, a charity in which I've been involved for eight of its nine years, and where I am now the General Manager. I can see the difference this charity makes every day to people who struggle or have struggled with sight loss: it's not just the huge range of supported, accessible activities on offer, but a real community of people who come together to make life better for others and themselves thanks to our wonderful volunteers, dedicated trustees and staff. 

The charity receives no public funding at all, so we have to raise every penny ourselves, through events, donations, fundraising by our friends and supporters and applications to trusts and foundations. We have great ambitions to provide more support to even more people in Coventry and so I would like to ask you for yours as I run. 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you so much for your generous support!