“It is estimated that there are as many as 120,000 people in the UK who survived polio, very often encouraged to get on with their lives, forget polio, and adopt a “flair for denial” as there was a belief that polio was something in the past, which would not change.”

My father-in-law has lived with polio, and subsequently post polio (PPS) for most of his life. He was submitted to hospital at the age of 4 with influenza symptoms, but was quickly diagnosed with polio and spent over a year in hospital (some time of it in an iron lung) receiving treatment. His full story is fascinating, heartbreaking yet inspirational all in one big hit. You can read his full story by following this link:

http://runthecountry.net/who-we-are/andrew-metcalfe/andrews-story/

So my running in 2016 is devoted to raising money to support the British Polio Fellowship. This year, I’m going to run 2,016 miles – in training and in events – which will include marathons and ultra marathons. At the end of August, myself and three other will be taking on Run the Country – 134 miles in 4 days, from Whitehaven to Sunderland. I’ve helped raise money for a few charities over the past few years, all very close to my heart, but none are more important to me than this. Let’s hope the legs hold up!

The mental and physical expectations I’m putting on myself this year are huge. I didn’t ever expect to be putting myself in a situation for this to happen. But compared to what my father-in-law has had to endure during his lifetime, and the fact that I can do it, it really is nothing.

I’m not forgetting the other charities I’ve run for over the past couple of years – MDUK, Ted’s Gang and Arthritis Research UK – all very important to me for various reasons. This is not about supporting me, it’s about supporting others. Whoever it is.

I’d like to raise £2,016 (more if possible!)…. that’s £1 per mile. How many miles can you make me do?