For the last 4 years, my brother Nick has had a place in the Great North Run. For 4 years, he wasn’t able to run it.....until this year! My brother Nick, a veteran of the British Army Parachute Regiment was wrongly detained in India in 2013 whilst conducting anti piracy duties along with his 34 colleagues. Back in 2014 and to try to make up for the time spent apart trying to deal with the dreadful situation, I thought it would be nice for me, Nick and our older brother Paul to do something great as a family and run the Great North Run together. This was a huge thing to do for me since I’m allergic to running!! Me and Paul didn’t pass the ballot but Nick got a place and unfortunately couldn’t run it because he was still detained in India. Never thinking that this situation would take as long as it actually did to sort out, in 2015, 2016 and 2017 me and Paul had our places in the run but Nick and the men still weren’t home so we used the run as a platform to raise funds for the legal fees and as a great way to raise awareness for the men and the situation. In November 2017, after fighting for over 4 dreadfully long years, justice prevailed and all 35 men were fully acquitted and they returned home in December 2017. Finally, 4 years later than originally planned we can all run this iconic but arduous half marathon together. There were so many incredible causes, charities and people that helped us all along the way and we’re extremely thankful and indebted for all their support and donations over the year but there was one charity that was there from very early on and that was the Mission to Seafarers. From maritime advice, media assistance, financial aid and pastoral care, they were and still are constantly at the end of the phone for each and every one of us. If it wasn’t for the Mission, the men wouldn’t have even made it out the country after their acquittal but they ensured all the men involved had their flights home. We can never ever repay everyone back or thank everyone enough for their support throughout but to show even the smallest ounce of gratitude, we’d like the run the 2018 Great North Run for the Mission to Seafarers for their love and support and if we can help raise even a tiny amount for this incredible charity to help another family involved in maritime who may be in distress, then we’d be even more eternally grateful. It means the absolute world that as a family we can finally all run together and any donations would mean the absolute world too 🌎 Thank you ❤️