You can read my full and frank story here: https://whyirunthisbody.wordpress.com/

And see why I'm running the Royal Parks Half for Meningitis Now here:

I am dedicating all my race miles in the year starting 05/02/15 to a fab idea -  "miles for meningitis"  - an awareness campaign set up by Alan Glynn in memory of his little girl Alexis Rose who passed away from meningitis on 5th February 2011 aged 19 months. See: www.facebook.com/MilesForMeningitis

Alongside this I also want to raise some money for the charity that supports those who have had experience with meningitis, raises awareness and researches new vaccines. 

In 1997 I contracted meningicoccal septicaemia and pneumonia. I spent 2 weeks in intensive care, a month in hospital and eventually was lucky to just lose my toes and a finger and gain some very impressive scars. The pain was horrific and my time in hospital unforgettable. As an 18 year old I also lost a lot of body confidence.

Thankfully I had amazing family and friends to support me. As a runner I was devastated as I was told that I would never run competitively again.  Turns out this was rubbish! After learning to walk and run again I ran a mile of the Pennine Way with my intensive care nurse in 1998. In 2006 I ran the Great North Run with my dad and brother.  In 2010 I ran the London Marathon, Great North Run & Great South Run with my supportive friend and fellow Harrier Andy. All of these raising money for the Meningitis Trust.

In 2008  I joined Haywards Heath Harriers and started to run competitively again, I have been known to win a few races, and have a few sub 40 10ks under my feet, as well as my greatest achievement  - a 3.09 marathon at Brighton in 2012. My feet get very sore, not only because its hard to run with no toes but they are very scarred, I'm also rubbish at running downhill, and I can get very tired, but the buzz and sense of achievement I get from running outweighs these negatives a million times. I'm a strong believer in not letting obstacles get in my way. My determination will always win against my 'disability'. I will always win against the disease that nearly killed me. Just call me stubborn!

In 2012/13 I stopped running for 18 months to have my beautiful little boy. This was a tough time for me too for other reasons, namely reflux and depression, but getting back to running in May 2014 helped me to become a better mum and somehow I am back running and racing better than my pre-baby self. Having a son also puts a different perspective on my meningitis experience. I would never want him to suffer what I did, I have a heartfelt sorrow for all those parents that have lost children to or seen their children lose limbs to this disease, and I am adamant that vaccinations which are approved for use be part of our UK childhood immunisation programme. 

Awareness of the symptoms and signs of meningitis is also so important, as I type this, one of my good friends is in hospital recovering from bacterial meningitis, thank fully she got help as she recognised the symptoms immediately.  I knew nothing about meningitis when I got ill, and neither did the university doctors who told me I had flu, a simple glass test on the rash I had would have confirmed meningitis hours before I was admitted to intensive care.

Every time I run some race miles for meningitis in the year 5/2/15-16, I will use social media to raise awareness.  I have a few races planned for 2015, including a Mad March. Here are some of them:

Chichester 10k, Eastbourne Half, Broadland Half, Thames Half, Hastings Half, Tempest Ten, Brighton Marathon 10k, Bluebell Ten, Mid-Sussex Marathon Weekend, Hastings 5, Horsham 10k, Rye Ten, Worthing 10k, Staplehurst 10k, Pheonix 10k, Bexhill 5k, Newick 10k, Langdale Half, Hove 10k, Barns Green Half, Brighton Ten, Great South Run, Poppy Half, Brighton 10k, Norwich Half, Crowborough 10k. Maybe add in some XC, Parkrun, and track meetings.

I am also proud to be running the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October as part of the Meningitis Now Team.

I would really appreciate your donations however big or small for my miles for meningitis to help Meningitis Now continue to support those that need help, continue to raise awareness, continue to research into medicine, and continue to pressurise the government to vaccinate our children for free against all types of meningitis.

Thanks for taking the time to visit and read my page.

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