This year is very special because as well as being Head Start's 10th year it's also 10 years since my (Rita) two major operations at Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital, to remove rather large menigiomas (benign tumours) from within my spinal cord and brain. The superb skill & dedication of the neurosurgeons, specialist care of the doctors, nurses, physiotherapists & all the support staff were second to none and as a result here I am ten years later, mountain climbing, running, cycling, swimming, playing badminton and for the first time in ten years... skiing. Yippee. How fortunate are John & I to have the dear old NHS, Sheffield Hallamshire being a centre of excellence for neurology and also the Neurocare charity.

Neurocare raises money to improve the lives of patients with brain tumours, head injuries, epilepsy and other complex neurological conditions. They support Sheffield's world-leading neuroscience departments by funding specialist equipment, pioneering research, patient and family support services and the transformation of hospital wards into more comfortable and welcoming spaces.

If you choose to sponsor John & I on our fifth Head Start run, whatever amount you give, we and of course Neurocare will be immensely grateful. Thank you :-)