My wife & I started trying for a baby in 2022. Like most couples, we naively assumed it would take a few months to conceive. Those months turned into a year, then two, then three. We started our IVF journey last year. We were supposed to have our embryo transfer in the August of 2025, but my wife's follicles didn't grow to the size needed, so it was abandoned. We then started again in the December, and had our fresh embryo transfer that month. Our infertility is unexplained, so we thought that once we had our embryos, we were sure to succeed in getting pregnant. Unfortunately, we found out at Christmas that it wasn't successful. It took so much out of us that we didn't want to rush into the next transfer, so waited until this August. This was also unsuccessful.

Infertility and IVF takes over your entire life, and it feels like there's no room for anything else. On top of the emotional turmoil, my wife also had to go through the physical demands; the hormones, injections, egg collection, transfers, side effects of it all. It's one of the most difficult situations a couple can go through, and can feel isolating. Which is why I've chosen to run for Fertility Action for the Manchester Marathon. It will be my first marathon, and I wanted a charity that was close to my heart. Fertility Action support those going through infertility so they don't feel alone, and help educate people on what comes with the challenges of trying to conceive.

I'm doing this for everyone struggling with infertility, but most of all, I'm doing this for my wife.

Thank you for donating anything you can spare,

Sam