My annual moment of madness of entering the London Marathon Ballot thinking I will never get a place has caught me out this time, and I will be attempting to run the London Marathon on 27 April 2025!

As I was lucky (?) enough to get a ballot place, I am not tied into fundraising, but I wanted to use the opportunity to raise some money for an important cause.

I have never run more than a 10 KM race before, and last time I tried to train for something longer I ended up braking my foot, so this really is a huge challenge for me. I would be so grateful if you could help me get to the finish line by donating what you can to this truly amazing charity.

Ronald McDonald House Charities UK provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation to families with children having treatment in hospitals across the UK so that families can stay together, and be there when it matters most.

Their houses offer much more than just a place to stay; they provide family activities, peer support, respite, and many other services. This means that families can be by their child’s bedside in a matter of moments, whilst maintaining a degree of normal life with reduced emotional and financial strain.

They help over 6,000 families each year. It cost the charity £35 to house a family near their child's hospital for one night, and the average length of stay is 16 nights. I would be so grateful if you could help me reach the target which would cover one of these stays, so a family can focus on what matters most, and be at their child's side.