On Sunday 8th October I will be running the Chicago Marathon! I will be one of around 45,000 runners, pounding the streets of Chicago. The course is a loop course, starting and ending at Grant Park. From there the course winds through 29 of the city’s neighbourhoods.

This will be a very special marathon for me, not only it will be my 4th Abbott Major, my 6th marathon, but it’s also a marathon I didn’t think I would be able to run back in May. I was diagnosed with a 90% ruptured tibialis posterior tendon, and told I would have to stop running, have an operation and that I might never run again. After getting a second opinion and being introduced to the amazing podiatrist Steve Lyons, the injury is being managed and I am looking forward to getting on the start line. An unbelievable turnaround!

I have previously raised funds running marathons for my friend's small, but perfectly formed charity Usher Kids UK, and Chicago will be no exception.

All funds raised enable Usher Kids UK to run events for their community, create resources which address their specific needs, offer support sessions for parents and family members, and provide training to educate professionals about how they can better support their community.

Usher Kids UK are so grateful for you taking the time to find out about the work of their charity, and thankful for any contribution you are able to make. The charity is going from stride to stride, shifting up a gear to deliver lots more, and has ever greater needs for funds as a result.

What is Usher Syndrome?

It is a rare genetic condition. The major symptoms are deafness and an eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). RP initially causes night-blindness and then a progressive loss of peripheral vision beginning in childhood, worsening in the teenage years and leading many adults with Usher syndrome to lose their vision completely. For a deaf person, the loss of vision is particularly challenging, as they rely on their sight so much more than hearing people. Usher syndrome is the leading cause of deaf-blindness, but there is currently no cure.

This is a cause close to my heart and I would like to raise as much money as possible to help Usher Kids UK.

My target is to raise £2,200. So here is where I need your help…..

It would be amazing if you would sponsor me, anything you can give, big or small, will make a huge difference to the children and families affected by this condition.

For more information about Usher Kids UK go to www.usherkidsuk.com

Thanks so much for your support – I will be posting some more information about Usher Kids UK and the amazing work they are doing in the weeks leading up to the marathon.

Roll on 8th October …………