I'm running this year's London Marathon for Diabetes UK in memory of my mum, Doris. She was a passionate supporter of Diabetes UK following her diagnosis with Type 2 diabetes several years ago, and they were the only charity to whom she set up regular donations, her way of demonstrating her gratitude for the support she received from them over the years. There are so many misconceptions about Diabetes ("it's not serious", "it's preventable", "Diabetics can't have sweet foods") but up to one third of patients in hospital have Diabetes. Through Diabetes UK's network of resources, mum learned all about her condition and how to manage it, enabling her to successfully ward off many of the damaging effects it can have. As a nurse myself, I have seen the devastating impact diabetes can have and the long and short term effects. Organisations like Diabetes UK work tirelessly on research, education and support to lessen the effects of this very common condition.

This seemed a fitting way to both honour mum's memory and contribute just a little to their outstanding work, and I would be delighted if you could sponsor me.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.