My decision to run the London Marathon 2020 for Addenbrooke’s Hospital is because it will be 10 years since I was completely paralysed apart from my eyelids due to Gullian-Barré Syndrome (GBS).

I was only 17 but incredibly lucky. If it happened to me now, I wouldn’t fully recover. I was one in a million. And I am now 1 in 1,000,000 to ever get it again (just like everyone else’s odds).

GBS resembled similar aspects to ‘locked in syndrome’ for me whilst I was in Neurosciences Critical Care Unit. I was fully aware of what was going on, however I was completely paralysed apart from the ability to blink with a tracheostomy. Therefore any communication with me was near impossible for 10 weeks.

In the end of the day, I was only 17. My illness made me grow up and kept me young at the same time. I had to fully rely on my parents when I should have been learning to stand alone. I had to show strength when all I wanted was to completely melt down at how unfair everything was.

So 10 years later, I feel it’s time I give back to the charity helping the amazing nurses, knowledgeable doctors and life saving consultants who dealt with me for my whole five months living as an inpatient.

I am running to prove to myself I am recovered.
I am running for the people I met who will never run or walk again.
I am running in memory of the people I met throughout my time in hospital.
And most of all, I am running for NCCU at Addenbrooke’s hospital.

All of this money raised will be going directly to the Major trauma campaign which is obviously extremely close to my heart. Please read the amazing things they have already achieved here:

https://www.act4addenbrookes.org.uk/what-were-fundraising-for/major-trauma-appeal

Please support me as much as you can!