Some of you know that I lost my best friend, Kirsty, a little over 5 years ago. 8 years after we lost her husband, James. Both were people I worked with 25+ years ago who became a huge part of my personal life. Since K died I have been been very low, struggling (it turns out) with sleep apnoea and just feeling exhausted most of the time. But in 2026 I'm waking up and feeling myself again for the first time in years. Because I took up running.

My son Robin was worrying about my health and energy and suggested we should take up running. I hadn't run for about 30 years but I remembered Kirsty doing Couch to 5k a year or two after James died, and that she felt better for it. And when your child wants you to get fit, you find the strength to get up and get on with it.

We are training now for Run Jericho, our neighbourhood 5k race that raises funds for the school where I am a governor. It is an amazing school that (like all school in the UK and I'm sure elsewhere) is really underfunded. We provide a very diverse community with brilliant teaching, and amazing 'enrichment'. It is the enrichment that is most at risk when funding cuts bite and that is what I'm raising funds for - to ensure we continue to provide local children, many of whom are disadvantaged despite Jericho being perceived as a gentrified community, with music, sport and art.

I hope to raise £5k for my 5k. Every training run is gruelling but I think of K and J and plod on. Thank you for any donation you can make to help make it all worth it!