I am so excited (and a little nervous) to be running the London Landmarks Half Marathon on April 6th 2025 to raise funds for Children’s Trust in Tadworth as it's a charity very close to my heart having spent 8 weeks there with my daughter.

The Children's Trust gives children and young people with brain injury and neurodisability the opportunity to live the best life possible by providing specialist rehabilitation, education and community services across the UK.

Our Story - In July 2020 Freya was suddenly struck by what they think was some kind of virus which resulted in her immune system attacking her spinal cord. At the start of the day (which was also the day after my Dad's funeral) she felt under the weather and by the 5pm she couldn't walk and we were calling an ambulance. By that evening she was paralysed from the waist down and the strength in her hands were also affected.

Freya was 7 weeks into her recovery from a spinal cord injury when we learned that she had a place at The Children's Trust for 8 weeks rehabilitation. All of the staff were absolutely amazing - from the ward staff, school teachers and play specialists, to the orthotics, occupational therapists and physios. She still didn't have any movement or feeling in her feet or ankles at this point (although she was able to walk with the help of a frame for stability) but once we got to the Children's Trust and she got the correct AFOs (ankle foot orthosis), plus intense physio everyday she went from strength to strength.

If you saw Freya today you wouldn't realise that she has a spinal cord injury - we are so incredibly lucky that she has had a close to full recovery and we are so grateful to the Children's Trust for all that they did.

Having seen the wonderful work that they do there for children and families who have been through so much, I would love to help them support more children with brain injury and neurodisability in any way I can, so thanks for donating!

Clare x