On the 27th of April I will be running the Manchester Marathon to help raise funds for a charity that helped my family out when we needed it. The charity Simba responds to the needs of those affected by the loss of a baby. They help families create precious memories with their baby and offer ways to honour and remember them.

I've not talked about this with many people before but about 12 months ago, Cara and I lost our little girl Sophia following a devastating 20 week scan. Sophia was born in the Heather Suite at Raigmore Hospital on the 30th December 2023 and sadly wasn't able to come home with us.

It is difficult to put into words the shock and numbness you feel when you something like that happens, especially when you are preparing for life with a newborn. The midwifes in the Heather Suite, the memory boxes and ongoing support that Simba provided to my family through that period were a great support and I would like to raise some funds to give back.

Running a marathon will be a huge challenge for me. I have never been a runner and couldn’t even run 5k about 18 months ago. There is a high chance I will end up in the back of an ambulance, but I will get it done and I hope that thought of me struggling will be enough for you to make a donation if nothing else.

I know times are hard for a lot of people at the moment but if you are able to donate anything at all, I would really appreciate it.

Please visit website at www.simbacharity.org.uk for information on how your support makes a difference.