On 19th April I will be running the Manchester Marathon, my first marathon. I do not have a charity place but am running in support of Nerve Tumours UK because their work means a great deal to me personally as I have Neurofibromotosis type 1. They provide crucial support to people living with Neurofibromatosis type 1&2 - the conditions that cause nerve tumours.

They are dominant genetic conditions, which means that they can be passed on in families from one generation to the next through genetic inheritance. Similarly, about half of nerve tumours cases recorded have no previous family history of the condition. In other words, it can occur totally “out of the blue”.

My family received a lot of support from this organisation when I was younger and, as the organisation receive no government funding, they rely on donations to carry out their vital work.

I will be most grateful for any support.