When my three-year-old daughter Juliette fell ill, doctors had no idea what was wrong with her at first. She was later diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and was was quickly transferred to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. Addenbrookes is a centre of excellence for the treatment of childhood cancer but it is an hour’s drive away from our home.

My wife Geves and I felt like our world had turned upside down. Juliette had always been a healthy child and the last thing we expected was for her to become so seriously ill. We were worried about where we were going to stay as we had no relatives or friends nearby and the thought of being too far away from her at any time was too painful. Fortunately the nurse working on the ward told us about The Sick Children's Trust’s ‘Home from Home’, Acorn House, which was situated within the hospital grounds.

These "homes" provide a non-medical environment for families of seriously ill children, which enable members to stay together at the most difficult time in their lives. Juliette had to stay at Addenbrookes for a month, and Acorn House meant that we could alternate the nights we spent at Juliette’s side, allowing us to get some sleep, and also to have a much needed cry away from intensity of the hospital ward. It was really hard to leave Juliette’s side while she was so poorly, but eventually she stabilised herself and we felt able to take some time out and get some rest. I can’t begin to explain how tired we were; it was impossible to get any peace and quiet on the ward, let alone sleep!

The house was brilliant. It had everything we needed, kitchen, play area, sitting room and a phone next to the bed. We were comforted that the staff on Juliette’s ward could contact us as soon as we were needed and therefore could relax properly and the environment was so homely. Everywhere was beautifully clean and airy and the kitchen had everything you could ever need. Our other children found everything very hard to deal with but when they came to visit us at the ‘Home from Home’ and could visualise where we were, they found it a lot easier to cope.

We were able to chat to other parents going through similar experiences and the whole environment felt really supportive and we felt less alone. Looking back I don’t know how we would have coped without The Sick Children's Trust. Everything about the ‘Home from Home’ was amazing and you just don’t find that level of support and understanding anywhere else.

As most of you know since Juliette passed away, I became a dedicated runner and together with Geves’ running and Elodie’s cake sales we have raised over £13,000 for Children With Leukaemia. It is a great charity and we will always support their work to help prevent the deaths of other children, but it is also a charity with a very a high profile and it is well supported. Therefore this year I decided to run a marathon in the town of my birth, Paris, on the 6^{th April 2008 in loving memory of Juliette, for this wonderful smaller charity.}

I know that most have you have sponsored me in the past and I am so grateful, but on this occasion I would ask that you sponsor me to raise money for Acorn House, a fantastic place that truly saved our sanity at a very difficult time, and is in even more need of funding to provide such a loving service to families like ours.

Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to donate: The Sick Children's Trust will receive your money electronically and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in Gift Aid will be added to your donation at no cost to you.

Please donate generously.

Many thanks for your support.