I’ve never been a runner. Even when I played football, I played in goal! Running down the road would leave me completely out of breath. So, either bravely or foolishly, I’ve signed up for the Manchester Marathon in April.

Why am I doing this?

Both my family and Leigh’s family have a history of heart conditions. Most recently, my mum went through major heart surgery. It was a frightening time for us all, but thankfully the operation was a success and she’s now recovering well. Seeing what she went through really put everything into perspective.

Because of this, I’ll be running for a charity that means so much to both me and Leigh — the British Heart Foundation.

The life-saving research carried out by the British Heart Foundation makes operations like the one my mum had possible. Their work has helped save lives and improve the quality of life for so many families, including ours.

However, they can’t continue this incredible work without support. Knowing that people are backing me, even in a small way, will help carry me through every mile of this run. Any donation, no matter the size, would mean more than I can put into words.

Thank you so much for your support.