In December 2022, just before Christmas, our world turned upside down when our two-year-old daughter Isabelle was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. Within days, she was admitted to Evelina London Children's Hospital, where she spent 24 days under their exceptional care — 10 of those in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and the rest on Savannah Ward.

It’s hard to put into words what that time was like. Watching your child go through something so frightening is every parent’s nightmare. But amidst the fear and uncertainty, the staff at Evelina became our light. The care they gave Isabelle — and the support they gave us as a family — was extraordinary. We are eternally grateful.

Even though Isabelle spent Christmas in ICU, it somehow still felt magical. Santa came. She received presents. The ward was filled with warmth, kindness, and compassion, not just from the doctors and nurses but also from the charities working alongside the hospital. That spirit meant everything to us in those hardest days.

Isabelle is doing so well now — strong, brave, and full of joy. And it’s because of the incredible team at Evelina that we were able to bring her home, safe and healing.

So, this October, I’m running the Royal Parks Half Marathon to give something back. To say thank you. And to help ensure that other families going through the unimaginable can feel the same comfort, care, and hope that we did.

Every step I take is for Isabelle. And for every child at Evelina.

To give you an idea of the impact of your donation:

£20 could help put a child's mind at ease with imaginative toys, books and games that explain what happens in hospital.

£50 could help the team put together amazing rucksacks full of distraction toys for every ward and department.

£100 could give every child the chance to escape into their favourite film, by buying more DVD players with headphones.

Thank you so much for your support!