Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

In December 2022 Lucy, my daughter, spent 3 weeks in the hospital we know in Edinburgh as the Sick Kids.

Over those 3 weeks the Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity had arranged something amazing and Christmassy for the kids for every day in the advent calendar. Hospital days are long, spent waiting for tests and news about tests, so daily bedside visits from both football teams, the rugby, ballet dancers, acrobats, brass bands, carol singers, story time, silent disco, comedy, panto, movies, magicians, you name it, gave us all something to look forward to. They really cheered the kids (and parents) up and helped us feel festive.

But ECHC isn’t just active at Christmas.

All year round they are present on the wards who helping kids who aren’t well enough to leave their beds to do something fun like crafts or music.

Even after Lucy's long stay, we have benefited from the charity's wide remit during outpatient visits with music therapy, therapy dogs and cups of tea, which I understand are only the tip of the iceberg of the range of things this organisation does for patients and families in the hospital.

I am really grateful for how they've helped us in the past and how they support us on an ongoing basis just by being there when we need them.

Please help me show gratitude by sponsoring me to run the marathon at the Edinburgh Marathon Festival on Sunday 26 May.