In September I’ll be completing the South Coast Ultra — which is a polite way of saying I’ve voluntarily signed up to move an extremely long way along cliffs, hills and bits of path that look flat until they absolutely aren’t. This is not something I was born to do. I am not “built for ultras”, I don’t float uphill, and my natural habitat is usually closer to home than a start line. But here we are.

There might be blisters. There will be moments of quiet regret. There may be some introspection about my life choices around mile 30.

However, every painful step is for a cause that genuinely matters to me — I’m fundraising for the Early Birth Association, supporting the incredible Trevor Mann Baby Unit at Brighton Hospital. They do extraordinary work caring for premature and critically ill babies, and supporting families at what is often the most frightening time of their lives. Having had the need of their services I can speak highly enough of all the doctors, nurses and support staff based on the unit!

So if my suffering can help raise money for specialist care, equipment and support for babies who arrived far earlier than planned, or just need a helping hand along the way, then it’s more than worth a few destroyed toenails and a bruised ego. Please donate if you can, cheer me on from afar, and take comfort in knowing that while I’ll be running the South Coast Ultra… you very sensibly won’t be.

Thank you — it really does mean a lot ❤️