On Sunday 21st April 2024 I will be lining up alongside almost 50,000 people to run the London Marathon for the first time.

Training was due to start on 1st January 2024 however I suffered a bad ankle injury (ligament damage and a small fracture) at the end of December meaning I was in a boot for a while and had to stop running for a few weeks. I kept up the fitness on a turbo trainer throughout January and got back running in February. My plan has been shorter than I had anticipated but training has gone well and I’m now ready to go.

My work (Invest NI) has just announced their new corporate charity partner as the Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice and I got to hear about the amazing work that the Hospice does and how much funding they need to continue the work that they do.

About the Children's Hospice

The only service of its kind in NI, Children's Hospice cares for over 370 babies, children and young people each year at our dedicated Children's in-patient unit - Horizon House and in our local communities through our Specialist Community Nursing Team. Our work also extends to families, supporting them from the point of diagnosis right through to the grieving period after bereavement.

We receive a small amount of government funding, so we rely on the generosity of our local community to help us to continue to deliver our vital service.