There are two things that bring me joy every week without fail....

1) Getting out for a run - it's where I clear my head, feel happy and come up with my best ideas. 

2) Ringing my Age UK friend. She's in her 70's, I don't know what she looks like and we have never met. But we speak at least once a week, sometimes more, on the phone.  We've spoken all through lockdown, on Easter Day, Christmas Eve, New Years Day and our birthdays. Not even having COVID stopped us from speaking. She tells me memories of the life she's lived, of the mischief her cat has been up to, about the flowers she's been planting in her greenhouse and how her grandchildren are getting on. I tell her about my work week, dating fails and life updates. She sends me cards and I send her photos of me, my friends and family so she can visualise the stories I tell. She's one of the first people I ring when I have exciting news to share and she offers the greatest words of wisdom when there's something on our minds.

So this year, I've decided to combine these two loves and run The London Marathon to raise money for Age UK. My friend is the most independent and self sufficient person I know. But she has a disability that prevents her getting about with ease and therefore  experiences the loneliness that sadly 1.6M older people in the UK feel. 

We all know how loneliness feels and if lockdown has taught us anything it's that great connections can happen even when we're physically apart. Please help me raise money so Age UK can bring more people together for unique friendships like ours and continue providing companionship for older people.

I have never run more than a half marathon and whilst that may be further than others, this is still going to be the biggest challenge I've ever undertaken. I'll be sharing my progress along the way and when it comes to the day - I will run it if I can, I'll walk it if I must, but I will finish it for Sheila.