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This is my biggest challenge yet. I hardly dare say it, never mind write it but on 24th April 2016 I will be running the Virgin London Marathon. A total of 26.2 miles.

Those of you that know me may know that I managed to run two half marathons in 2015 but those people who know me well will know that I love a good challenge, so now it is time for the big one...!

Why?  Well the reason is simple. It's our daughter. Our precious little baby daughter. Our little baby, loved and lost. Gone too soon. When we found out that we were expecting twins we were overjoyed. Our world fell apart when we lost little Sophia. After the trauma, followed the heartache. I'm so proud that I gave birth to our little girl, and that we were able to hold her, even if it was to have to say hello and goodbye to her in that same moment. No parent should have to carry the tiny coffin of their child, but my brave, strong husband did. He was amazing. And then comes the recovery, trying to rebuild our lives, carry on. Find our new normal. Explain it all to our girls. Cry. Laugh again. Grieve... 

The sad thing is that there are so many other little babies gone too soon, leaving broken hearts and empty arms. We are blessed to have two happy and healthy little girls who are our world, but some aren't so lucky. Baby loss is a very sensitive subject and one that is sometimes ignored because it's too painful and upsetting to discuss. Yet it is also sadly, a very common thing. 

I will be running the marathon to raise money and awareness for an amazing charity called Saying goodbye, a charity who support people through baby loss to bring healing to their grief. This charity is very close to our hearts having helped us personally but also very close friends of ours. The Saying Goodbye Services are the first national set of remembrance services for people who have lost a child at any stage of pregnancy, at birth or in infancy, whether the loss be recent or 80-years ago.

So this challenge will be in memory of our daughter but also my way of giving support and a massive virtual hug to all those other people who have been affected by the loss of a baby. Be it miscarriage, stillbirth, death in infancy. You may be parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, close friends, the list is endless. And for the babies themselves. Those tiny little babies, however short their lives. Know that you left an imprint on this world. This is for all of you. 

So starting from now, I'll be training hard running at least 3/4 times a week, upping the distance each week as well as adding training sessions in at the gym to make sure I'm fit for the big day. I've never done anything as physically demanding as this, but I will give it my all. 

I kind of think that if I can get through what I have, and carry on each day, then I can smash this. Here's hoping.

Thank you for reading.  And thank you Jez, Phoebe and Poppy. I couldn't do any of this without you three.

VLM 2016 bring it on.  Don't forget to cheer me on! Xxxx

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