The photo above is of 4-year old Anowar and his mum and brother. They've fled Myanmar and are living in a refugee camp in Kutupalong, Bangladesh. Anowar had just been treated for diphtheria, a treatable but life-threatening disease, by doctors and nurses who have been trained by UK-Med. 

Each year millions of people like Anowar and his family are caught up in humanitarian crises. UK-Med train and deploy medical teams and specialists to save lives when epidemics, conflict and natural disasters hit. As disasters grow more frequent, severe and complex there has never been a greater need to respond quickly and effectively.

We believe in a world prepared to help when emergencies hit. But there are simply not enough trained medical staff worldwide to meet this growing need. Our medical teams can respond from the UK to offer a short-term surge in skilled clinical staff, but we also work with medical teams around the world on preparedness to build resilience to future threats. 

After a false start this year, when I had to pull out of the Chester Marathon in October, I'm back on the road and slowly coming back from an injury. The Manchester Marathon is in April, let's hope I don't muck up my ankle again before then and 2020 can be the year I finally stop saying 'This is the year I run a marathon', and actually do it.

It has always been an ambition of mine but I've always been to nervous to try. So please, any donation, large or small, will make a big difference and will keep me pushing through this 'wall' everyone is so fond of talking about. With our own NHS under threat it's just reaffirmed to me that everyone has a right to high quality healthcare - no matter where they're born or what twist of fate means they're caught up in a horrendous situation. Thanks for your support.