When the rain’s been smashing in my face, or hail stones have been hitting every part of me or it’s been in the minuses, I really have had to remind myself why I signed up to do the Yeovil half marathon (especially now I’ve learnt it’s hilly)!

My Dad was a total, utter legend in my eyes. A sheer joy to be with. Fun, funny, cuddly, kind and colourful. His best mate Tim described him as “a bright eyed mischievous gazelle leaping and bounding his way through life” at his service and I thought that was the perfect depiction of him.

When I was little he endured many a dance routine, played endless games of cricket with me on the beach, made sand sculptures and taught me to bodyboard. On our Saturday adventures we always had a Mars bar. He supported me to be able to go to uni, he was there for the heartbreaks, he taught me how to be an adult and most of all, he made me laugh.

Dad was a phenomenal artist. Somehow as able to paint a portrait as he was to install sculptures, illustrate books, transform the inside of hospitals, weave paint, design lighting to transform towns and piers and so on. When I was little we’d drive in huge vans around the country to install his latest sculptures, it was amazing.

And he ran, all the time. Happily bounding off for the daily 5 miler, or the weekly 9 miler. Tintinhull fun runs and an occasional half marathon, it was a huge part of him.

Very sadly he got diagnosed with dementia and when I think about that time I always go back to his bravery. Even though it took so much away, I don’t think he ever lost his spirit. I remember in the final months, showing him a video of a dance performance I’d just done and while he couldn’t speak, he flamboyantly flapped his arms around in celebration, it was magic.

Running was a massive part of Dad’s everyday so this felt like the obvious thing to do for him. With a plan that started on 22nd December, I now find myself with 6 weeks to go. I honestly wasn’t sure if I could do this half marathon but I wanted to test myself and for me this is a big test. But yesterday I got to 9.3 miles and that was my milestone because it was one of Dad’s two distances and it was the distance I wanted to test my body to before committing to you all that I’d do the race!

I’m raising money for Paintings in Hospitals because Dad did a lot of work in hospitals and believed passionately about the impact it could have on patients and visitors. I was living at home while he was the lead artist for Bristol Children’s Hospital, transforming the walls, floors, doors, nurses desks and beyond to the most magical and joyful scenes – seasides, giraffes, houses etc. all to improve people’s experiences of being there. He loved that project and smaller charities like these need donations more than ever.

In 6 weeks time, despite despising Dad’s love of bluegrass when I was a teenager, I’ll be crossing the line listening to “Roll in my sweet baby’s arms” because that’s the song I associate with him most. Any help you can give to get me across that line would be massively appreciated.

This one’s for you Dad.