Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Now I have run my 5 half marathons and Jacob has run his first offical race at Silverstone it’s now time to finish what I started with one final challenge…….MANCHESTER MARATHON 19TH APRIL 2026 and raise some more pennies for acorns hospice 🧡.

When my daughter Sophie was born in 2016 she was born very early with multiple medical problems. She was rushed straight to Birmingham for emergency surgery as she was born without an oesophagus (TOF/OA) and after surgery we also found out she had a bled on the brain and had cerebral palsy and her brain damage was extensive. We spent many weeks in hospital and over that time I was told by many people that I wasn’t good enough and that I wouldn’t be able to cope having a disabled child and I wouldn’t be able to meet both my children’s needs. It was drummed into me so much that I talked about adoption because I thought they would be better with someone else, someone who could do it. They also told me Sophie had brain damage because I starved her of oxygen not my body but me. After 3 months we were discharged and Acorns hospice came into our lives to help. They were there ultimately for Sophie’s medical needs but they were there for all of us. They helped and guided me through this new world of feeding tubes and equipment, they saw me in my darkest days and they helped and guided me out of those days. They made me realise I was good enough and that I could do it and that I needed my kids as much as they needed me and I really don’t think I would be alive if it wasn’t for them being there for me when no one else was. I was so alone, sacred and tired and couldn’t see how I could face another day, the guilt of what I did unintentionally to Sophie was eating me alive I can’t explain it but it’s still there everyday all day but I cope differently now. Throughout Sophie’s life she has medically been resuscitated 5 times now so I set myself a challenge to loose 6 stones in 2024 which I did and then in 2025 to run 5 half marathons, each one to celebrate Sophie surviving and fighting another day. She never gave up and still never gives up so why should I, when my legs tire I think of her because that’s how she feels every day all day, my legs will recover and the feeling is temporary but for Sophie her body aches 24/7. In 2020 we were discharged from acorns hospice as Sophie’s health had stabilised and that was a good thing because the reality is many families go to acorns hospice for end of life care and never get to leave as a complete family again but we did leave as a complete family so I’m running 5 half marathons in 2025 (I actually ran 12) and I’m running the Manchester marathon April 26 for all those children who took their last breathes at acorns hospice and to all those children like mine that have come close to the end but continue to fight to be here every day. You all matter and you are all my inspiration. I’ve met so many sick and disabled children on our journey so far and they are just incredible they don’t complain or moan or say it’s unfair they just accept it and embrace life. Every step I take I take for Sophie and all the other children and my legs will always be your legs Sophie your my daughter and my world and I now know I’m good enough for you and Jacob and I just hope you are as proud of me as I am of both of you.

If you can spare any pennies for this truly incredible charity it would be much appreciated.

MANCHESTER MARATHON APRIL 19th 2026

My races in 2025 were

16th March - bath half marathon

13th April - Newport half marathon

4th May - Birmingham half marathon

14th September - Worcester half marathon

5th October - Cardiff half marathon

23rd November - Silverstone half marathon

23rd November - Jacobs mile at silverstone race track.