On the 4th Dec 2011 my life changed. I collapsed into a coma (whilst doing a charity run!) after a category 5 brain haemorrhage.

After waking up, and having a glued embolisation (think glue gun in the brain), I started on my road to recovery. I could not have done it without the amazing people at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery... And they could not have helped me if it wasn't a world class teaching hospital. I will support them for the rest of my life to make sure this remains the case.

You lot - My family and friends (with particular shout out to Vix) have supported me each and every day. I have never felt like I was doing this alone. For that I love you all. Each and every day I strive to be slightly better than the day before. I owe it to you all to be the best person I can be.

Some people might remember that I ran the marathon a year after leaving hospital. Well since then I've changed jobs (now working for JustGiving - proudly raising >$0.5bn each year for charity), and most importantly become a father. Arthur is awesome. Being a dad has made me focus even more on how lucky I am and how I hope that every child, everywhere, whatever age would get the chance and treatment I got at the NHNN.

The hospital still needs to raise more money to build 2 new teaching theatres. This will mean more Drs can learn the techniques that saved my life. This will spread the skills and knowledge to every hospital around the UK. I'm committed to try and make these theatres a reality.

So it's time I helped them raise even more money. I'm going to run 100k, that's 2.5 marathons and about 14hours of running. I call it:

MIND OVER MATTER - the 100k challenge.

Please join me. Run with me. Keep me company. Shout and cheer. And of course sponsor me... And dig deep. It is an amazing cause.

Thanks... from the bottom of my heart.

Charlie

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