My Story

I'm running the London Marathon! On the 23rd April 2023 I'll be tackling my third marathon and its the iconic London Marathon. This wouldn't be possible without the incredible charity Martin House Children's Hospice offering me a charity place on the understandong that I raise at least £1500 for them. 

Martin House is an incredible charity which supports children, young people and their families who are living with life-limiting conditions and they provide care after death as well. 

They offer respite stays so families have time to be a family with out having to carry out the day to day medical intervention they do without a second thought to their loved ones. In these stays, families hopefully get the chance to catch up on some well earned sleep, but the stays also offer a chance for the children and young people to get involved in a variety of activities including sensory play, music therapy and trips out. For the young people, the Whitby Lodge side of the building offers them the chance to have as much independence as possible. 

Martin House also offers emergency and symptom control stays to trial new medicines for patients suffering from a variety of symptoms. These stays may also happen when family circumstances mean, for a short time, they are unable to provide care to their family member (whether that be through due to their own health or other reasons, e.g. when adaptations are being made to their home). 

As a hospice, Martin House also has a huge involvement in palliative and end of life care whether this be in the hospice, at home or in hospital. They also have two cooled rooms which enable families to stay with their loved ones after they've died in order to say their goodbyes. 

Martin House supports a wide range of families, from those who have received diagnoses during pregnancy up to the age of 25 years,  and provides breavement support for family members after death. A child does not need to have been known by the hospice for them to use the cool rooms or receive bereavement support so they are able to support families who's child has died suddenly. 

No-one likes thinking about the death of a child or young perosn but Martin House puts thought and care into ensuring it is a place available for those when it is needed the most. 

Someone once summed up what Martin House does to me so beautifully by saying 'We cannont add days to their lives but we can add life to their days'.

I am fortunate enough to work for such an incredible charity and know just how important the work which they do is, so please if you could spare any money to support such an incredible charity it really would be appreciated!