I’ve been fighting Long Covid for 3 years.  Only recently, I couldn’t walk more than 15 steps at time, or talk to someone for more than a few minutes.

My recovery has begun, and I’m setting myself challenges along the way.  I’ve chosen this challenge to get my brain working again.

The challenge is to produce a podcast, with 5 episodes of 10 minutes each.  In order to create a sense of almost unbearable anticipation (!) I’m not going to tell you the podcast’s topic.

What I’d like to tell you about instead is the cause I’m doing this for.

Shine for Shani was set up by my good friends Juliet and Simon Berman.  Their inspiring daughter, called Shani, was born with what they called a magic heart, because it kept her alive and full of life for much longer than expected.

From the time she turned 5 however, her oxygen levels depleted, and the doctors decided to operate. Tragically, Shani did not survive the complex operation.

Shine For Shani was set up to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she was treated, and other centres of excellence in paediatric cardiology. Its mission is: to improve the health and life chances of children with serious heart conditions.