In September I will be challenging myself to run a half marathon, by far the furthest I will have run since having my boys. I am not only doing this to push myself and honour the strength of my body (something I have struggled with after miscarriage, difficult pregnancies and c-sections) but also in an attempt to raise money for Henry (my Step-Dad)’s charity.

Henry selflessly donated his kidney to his daughter Kathryn and they went on to become active committee members of the Wessex Kidney Patients Association (WKPA).

WKPA was established to promote the welfare of patients who attend Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, University Renal Paediatric Unit in Southampton and satellite dialysis units suffering from kidney disease or renal failure. The charitable work that they do at the WKPA can be anything from providing assistance with the purchasing of medical items for people who dialyse at home to helping Renal Units purchase medical items.

The WKPA do not receive any government funding, therefore any monies that they receive are through donations which are very gratefully received.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has no cure, transplant is the best form of treatment. There are currently thought to be 1.8 million people in the UK with CKD; And a million people in the UK are thought to have undiagnosed CKD. Over 4000 people are waiting for a kidney yet only 3300 transplants are carried out each year. There are many reasons why people come to lose kidney function and at the WKPA, through their work locally, they want to raise awareness about CKD and its effects.

If you can, I would love for you to support me in my challenge whilst also supporting an amazing charity and the incredible, life changing work that they do.