I haven't run a marathon before but I have previously completed two half marathons. I enjoy running in my free time, but I find it easier to be motivated when I have a challenge to work towards, so this felt like the perfect next move.  I wanted to join the Aspire team to help them raise funds to support people with Spinal Cord Injury because the work the charity does is so crucial.

Last August, my mum Claire fell off a ladder, fracturing her spine and sustaining an incomplete spinal injury. After five months in hospital and a rehab facility, she relearned to walk - from no feeling in her legs to the first wiggling of her toes in the hospital, to finally being allowed to return home - and hopefully onwards and upwards from here. Her determination was really inspiring and we realised first-hand just how important it is to have support and advice from amazing organisations such as Aspire during this really stressful time.

The experience was extremely tough for her and the family, but we are so grateful for her resilient attitude and the presence of support charities to help spinal injured people and their families, and it will be great to be able to give back and show my appreciation.
It was motivating to see my mum take on something so hard, which felt quite impossible to her at the start, but with mental strength as well as physical, she was able to prove wrong the assumptions that she would remain in a wheelchair and is still improving to this day.

I think in my mind, running this marathon still won’t live up to being as hard as the experience that people recovering from spinal injury have to face, but being able to support them by putting myself through a tough challenge, I will hopefully raise crucial funds so Aspire’s great work can continue. 

I have always wanted to run the London Marathon and I am really excited for the day, although not sure my legs agree! The world’s largest marathon is a wonderful run for my first marathon and it will be really rewarding to be able to run in support of a cause that means so much to me too. I feel very lucky to be taking part and proud to represent Aspire. 

                                       

I am enjoying my training so far. I’m using a running trainer app to help structure my sessions and have been building up the distance as well as recruiting friends to join me on some runs to keep it interesting! 

My fundraising is going well so far. I'm over halfway to my target which is fantastic and seeing all the support of friends, family and colleagues is so lovely.  I will keep ploughing away for the next couple of months and see how much more I can raise. I have a pub quiz planned with friends and family, alongside another friend who is running, so I'm looking forward to that and we will be planning another event, potentially a second quiz, closer to the time. I work for a marketing agency in the travel team and they have been supporting me. I hope to do an event with work like a pub quiz or bake off.

I am grateful to Aspire for the personal support they have given me and my family, but also for the work they do across the UK.  It is so important for those affected by Spinal Cord Injury to receive support following a life-changing incident. 

Sponsor Lucy

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