I'm fundraising for the British Heart Foundation and running 26.2 miles on 23rd April in the London Marathon. I'd be so grateful for your support and if you are able to sponsor me you will be able to vote in the poll to choose my costume (The options are currently being finalised in liaison with some special people (see below) and the link will be shared in updates to this page)

Ben, who taught me the meaning of chill. My mate. Fellow teacher. Watching egg chasing, drinking beer, thrashing me at tennis and doing our bloomin' best to be the best dad's possible. Ben and Chantal had spent 9 months starting a new life in Dubai in which we'd had the privilege of spending a week with them. (For those that know us, yes we went out to see them!). 

Both Ben and Chantal have been a great support to me and Mel and really taught us to take ourselves less seriously  Ben died suddenly, in front of his family, at the age of 39 last May in Dubai after suffering a cardiac arrest. He left behind his wife Chantal and two young girls Beatrix and Heidi. The BHF is screening the family and conducting research with the aim of no other families having their mum or dad ripped away in this way. Believe me, you never think it will happen. Then it does. Miss you Ben.

Words cannot describe my gratitude that my Mum is still with us. 

For over 10 years mum has lived with the condition Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH for short) Essentially this is a rare and potentially fatal form of elevated blood pressure in the lungs (known as pulmonary hypertension). It occurs when blood vessels in the lung have been blocked by a clot for a long time'.

Mum has maintained a quality of life thanks to her relentless perseverance and determination and also thanks to emerging drugs and recently 4 series of Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) at the incredible Royal Papworth Hospital that has only been available for a few years. The BHF has funded research which has contributed to both this procedure and the drug therapies. Without them, it's likely mum's health would have deteriorated faster and she too wouldn't be with us anymore.

Mum, you're an inspiration.