I signed up for the first Yorkshire Marathon in 2013, one of my bucket list things to do, along with seeing Springsteen in concert in America..  2nd March 2013 and I was impressed with my first long training run, 11 miles, pushed it a bit too hard so had aching legs, i shared the news with the family as i collapsed exhausted when i got back home.  Elliot, my two old said. 'mummy does your leg hurt', i said yes Elliot, he bent over and kissed my knee.  'is that better he said'.  i said yes and gave him a kiss and he had his usual smile, twinkle in his eye and off he went down the stairs - in my slippers (me thinking, please be careful - don't fall).

3rd March 2013 and I put Elliot for his usual afternoon sleep.  He never woke up.  He was just 2 years old.  

The shock and devastation is something i can't even begin to put into words.  He wasn't ill in any way, just he usual toddler runny nose.  At midnight on the 3rd March we walked out of the hospital with just a leaflet in our hands - that was our support.  People kept telling us that the worst thing had happened to us as a parent, so you would think that there would be help and support there, for us as a family, for Elliot's brother and sister - but  no.  

I didn't run the marathon that year.  The thought of putting on my trainers and Elliot not being there when i came home from the run with a kiss for my sore legs was too hard to contemplate.  Then i met an inspirational guy who kindly did the Marathon in 2015 for Elliot's Footprint.  We went along to cheer him on and i was amazed at the incredible atmosphere.  Thousands of runners, all with their own stories to tell, their own reasons for being there. Thousands of people coming together to help raise money to make a difference to someone else's life.

So here I am 2016, probably over a 100 training miles under my belt and ready to do what I originally set out to do in 2013.  Then it was for a challenge, now it is for a challenge but also in memory of my son and to raise much needed funds to help other families who sadly experience the same devastation of losing their child.  Please donate and help make sure that no other family is left to struggle alone - help us to raise funds for a specialist bereavement support work.

elliotsfootprint.org

thank you

Andrea