I'm proud, emotional and driven to be running the London Marathon after my dear mum Annette was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease earlier this year. 

No one deserves to be affected by such a cruel and debilitating disease but it feels particularly unfair that, after 30 years working as a social worker in Torbay supporting vulnerable children, she is struck down by a progressive illness without any hope of recovery. 

I was deeply moved watching Kevin Sinfield's heroic marathons after Rob Burrow started suffering from MND but I didn't ever think it would be me raising money for the same cause. So please give what you can to help me raise as much money as possible to support the MND Association's valuable community care and vital research into finding a cure.