Dear friends.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Last year I decided to join a local learn to run group and despite still being a very slow runner, I have spent this year trying to increase my distance.  From not being able to run at all, I can now run just under six miles and try to run three times a week.  I have completed a few ten kilometer races but still feel very much a novice runner.

My sister has had ME (Myalgic Encephalomylitis) for a long time now - thirteen years in fact. Growing up, she was always the more active sibling, full of life and energy.  She worked full time and ran and swam for hobbies.  She hasn't been able to do any of these things since the onset of ME - struggling to cook and complete basic chores, let alone go to work.  On bad days, she can struggle to get up the stairs and has flu like symptoms. 

Despite this, my sister has never lost hope of getting better.  There is no cure and she still has ME, but she is tireless in her dedication to eating healthily, taking supplements and managing her energy.  She would love to be able to run, swim and work again.  Her day is very dull, and despite me moaning about my hard job, I feel grateful that I can work and even be able to run.  I admire her for her positivity and determination in not letting this debilitating condition define her.  She is amazing.

I would like to run on behalf of my sister to try and raise money for the invest in ME charity to increase the awareness, education and research into this disabling condition. The Great South Run is in Portsmouth  on the 22nd October 2017 and is a ten mile run - the longest I have ever run - eeeeek!!!! 

Please help me run for my sister and make ME an illness which is properly understood and where adequate funding is provided for bio medical research into ME allowing treatment and cures to be found.

Thank you 😊 everyone.

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