Hey everyone,

As most of you will probably know by now I have been training for the Brighton Marathon since April 2017, starting with a 10k run in Richmond Park in June 2017 and in October last year I completed The Royal Parks Half Marathon in London. As a warm up for things to come I’ll be running the Surrey Half in March. I am extremely proud how far I have come along but what’s coming up next is huge...the Brighton Marathon, 26 whole delicious miles of running.

I am extremely nervous but equally excited to run The Brighton Marathon on Sunday 15th April 2018! This will be a huge “bucket list” moment ticked off for me and I know with the support of all of you I can run this for a great cause - The Samson Centre for MS.

MS (Multiple Sclerosis) is a neurological condition I didn't know too much about until unfortunately my Mum was diagnosed with in October 2008. At present there is no definitive cure, and the damage caused to the nervous system by this condition can provide a wide range of potential symptoms, more often than not leading to serious disabilities such as difficulities with walking or balance, a blurred or loss of sight, numbness or 'tingling', muscle stiffness or spasms...the list goes on and MS is different for everyone!

Since Mum's diagnosis in 2008, it has been tough to see how these symptoms have developed, to today where she now has to face a relentless daily battle with fatigue and weaknesses in her arms and legs, now struggling to walk without the support of a stick or frame.

The Samson Centre, based in Guildford, is a fantastic charity providing practical and emotional support for people living with MS in and around Surrey. Mum has used the charity for several years now and the opportunities the centre brings to her life is beautiful to see, giving Mum the confidence to leave the house, attend classes and socialise with a network of wonderful people. What amazes me is the Samson Centre is purely self-funded charity and receives no funding! Seeing first hand the excellent support the centre does it’s my turn to do my bit...

On their website there is a brilliant quote that really rings true... “We all prefer to stand on our own two feet, but some of us need more help than others”. Help me to help others! Your support is greatly appreciated and thank you in advance for any donations you make! Every little penny will make a huge difference and your kind words will spur me on for the biggest run of my life!

I started this journey with a close friend Jimmy Philp, he is running the Brighton Marathon for Scope - A charity that makes a real difference to the lives of those living with disabilities. Jimmy & I have been pushing each other from the very start to get up and make a difference to charities very close to our hearts, starting with those first casual runs to the Royal Parks Half-Marathon. Any love you could give him would be especially appreciated...(link below)

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jimmy-philp1

Thank you so much in advance for all your support and by all means if you fancy a day out on Sunday 15th April please come down to sunny Brighton and cheer us on!

Much love,
Willy P xx

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.