In May 2026, I’ll be taking on the Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge, tackling the island’s beautiful but tough coastal paths to raise money for Smile4Wessex, a charity very close to my heart.

When I was a child, I contracted meningitis which left a scar on my brain and caused severe epilepsy. For years, I lived with unpredictable seizures that had a huge impact on my life. Thanks to the incredible work of the Wessex Neurological Centre and the support of Smile4Wessex, I was able to have an operation to repair the scar on my brain.

Next year marks 20 years since my operation, and I’m so grateful to be able to celebrate this milestone living a seizure-free life, something I never thought would be possible. Taking on this challenge is my way of saying thank you and giving back to the charity that helped make this possible, so that others can benefit from the same life-changing care and research.

Every donation, no matter how small, will help Smile4Wessex continue supporting vital neurological research, patient care, and facilities that make such a difference to people’s lives.

Thank you so much for your support and wish me luck! 💜

Helen