My Dad (Paresh) and I have chosen to take part in the St Albans Half Marathon this year to help raise vital funds for the AT Society. For those that don't know, that's 13.1 painstaking miles of running (and most likely walking)!

Both my Dad and I are fairly active but have never tackled a feat like this before. Especially considering my Dad is 65 and the most I have ever run is 3 miles. Wish us luck!!

The AT Society is important to us because it is a charity close to our hearts. My sister-in-law, the famous Jilly from @Jillyscupcakehouse has AT and is actively involved in the charity. She is a true inspiration for anyone that knows her and despite her challenges, she makes the most of every waking moment and has raised an impressive £25k for the charity from her baking.

Jilly has baked myself and my dad many cakes over the years, and now it is time to give back and work off some of those treats.

Ataxia-Telangiectasia (“A-T”) is a complex genetic disease which affects many parts of the body and causes severe disability. The symptoms include lack of balance, slurred speech and more than normal infections.

The AT Society is a small, national, Harpenden based charity supporting children, young adults and their families whose lives have been shattered by a diagnosis of ataxia telangiectasia (AT), a rare, degenerative, life-limiting condition for which there is no cure. The AT Society work to support those living with AT and their families by raising awareness of the condition, giving emotional and practical support and commissioning and funding vital research into the fight against AT.

We have great admiration for Jilly and all those that are part of this incredible charity. Though she faces special challenges on a daily basis, she is one of the most active people we know, having been involved in the AT Society her entire life. That admiration is a daily reminder to approach any challenge we face with the same perseverance, something we are hoping to do with this half marathon.

To find out more about the incredible work the AT Society do, see below.