On Sunday 11th May 2025 I will be taking part in the Great Bristol Run Half Marathon for Ronald McDonald House. The charity is especially close to my heart as they provided my friends with a roof over their heads whilst their newborn daughter, Brianna, was critically ill in hospital. Please continue reading to hear their story.

Tom, Kay, and Brianna’s story:

At our daughter Brianna’s 20 week scan we were told that she had a 48% chance to make it to 5 years old.

She was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. She would require specialist medical care as soon as she was born and would need three open heart surgery’s. The first surgery within the first week of her life, the second at around 6 months and the third around the age of 5 years old.

Briannas spent half of the first 7 months in 4 different hospitals and endured two 8 hour open heart surgeries. The majority of the 7months was spent in Bristol childrens hospital as they were the closet hospital to us that could provide the specialist care she required.

Bristol is 152miles away from our home and we had no friends or family close by. We were alone in a city we didn’t know unsure of our daughters future. This is where Bristol Ronald Mc Donald house helped us and so many families like us! They provided a place to stay, leave your belongings, clean your clothes, cook some food within a small walk from the hospital. They took away the worry of finding somewhere else to stay, the pressure of deciding how long to book, the thought of can I afford this, how close is it to the hospital, where can I cook food, wash my family’s clothes. They are a charity that provide a home away from home for the parents of critically I’ll children in hospital.

Before Brianna the only thing I knew about the Ronald Mc Donald charities were putting my spare change in the box after a Big Mac! Now having personally experienced the work they do, I cannot stress how much they provide to so many people in need. They take away the stress of life so you can focus on your critically I’ll child in hospital!

Taking place on Sunday 11 May, I'll take to the streets of Bristol for an exciting day of running across the city, with 10km routes or Half Marathon routes available.

Please help me to keep more families close to their poorly child by donating and supporting #TeamRMHCUK in the Great Bristol Run 2025.