Hello, I'm Erem and this year I have decided to take part in a few different sporting activities to raise money for both PSP Association and Thrombosis UK. There will be a separate link for PSP Association. I was hoping to create one fundraiser for both charities and then split the money but this has not been possible. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could donate to both causes.

On Sunday 9th March I will begin my challenge by running the Inverness Half Marathon. On Sunday 27th April I will be taking part in the Loch Ness Etape and to complete my fundraiser, I will be completing the Ironman 70.3 Bolton on Sunday 8th June. All in all, this will consist of running, swimming and cycling around 150 miles (241.4km).

The reason that I have chosen these two charities to raise funds for is due to two incredible people, one of whom I did not get the honour to meet.

Thrombosis UK - I had come to learn about this charity and their cause when I met my partner, Chloe. Chloe and her sister, Natalie lost their mother, Hazel at a very young age due to a pulmonary embolism caused by a deep vein thrombosis. Hazel was only 35 at the time. I would have loved to meet their mother, however due to this not being possible I would still like to do something special in memory of her by raising money and awareness for this charity.

PSP Association - Before meeting Terry, I had never heard about PSP and CBD and the impact it can have on an individuals life. Terry was diagnosed with PSP and CBD, only a year after retiring from his career in Oil & Gas. I would like to raise money for the PSP Association, which is a charity aimed at carrying out essential research and spreading awareness into this life changing disease. Terry was a very active individual and this is what has inspired me to take part in this specific type of fundraising event. He is faced with challenges most days and continues to push through despite the setbacks. If I have even half of his determination throughout these events I know I will succeed.

Besides raising funds for these charities, my main goal is to raise awareness. Specifically, I want to share the impact that both Thrombosis and PSP can have on someone's life as well as their families. This is with the hope that an increased awareness might lead to improved support and an eventual cure. Below I will share Terry's story, and some more info on PSPA.

Hazel's Story

On 26th June 2011, my partner Chloe and her sister, Natalie, lost their Mother, Hazel to a pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis. Prior to this, the girls remember their Mother being unwell but being told on countless occasions by the GP that it was 'just a chest infection'.

Hazel was only 35 years old when she passed. She was known for being outgoing, determined and the life of a party. She was always taking the girls to gigs and ensuring they both had the best childhood. It is very upsetting that I will never get to meet Hazel but I hope she would be proud (extra brownie points).

Thrombosis is a very common condition however, it is not spoken about enough and people continue to die or be affected by thrombosis every day. In raising awareness, I hope that it will improve the diagnostic rate and educate others on the warning signs of thrombosis.

Thrombosis UK

Your donation will help us to raise awareness about thrombosis. It will also help to fund research looking at why and how a thrombosis occurs and to educate both Professionals and the Public.

Thrombosis UK receives no government funding and relies entirely on grants and voluntary donations.