Monochorionic twins are high-risk pregnancies because they share the same placenta, which means that the blood flow between the twins can become unbalanced. This can result in an awful condition called twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) which is fatal in 90% of pregnancies if untreated. This is because one twin receives too much blood, which puts a lot of pressure on the baby's heart, and the other twin receives too little blood and can't grow properly. Even with treatment there is still a 60% chance that very sadly at least one or both babies will die.

I spend a lot of time researching and caring for women and their families whose twins develop TTTS, but there is still a lot we do not know about the condition. This is why I have decided to run the NYC marathon: to help raise money for the Richard and Jack Wiseman Trust, a charity who are committed to finding the reasons and cure for TTTS.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this and for your support - you really are helping to save babies lives. (And it will also keep me going during long rainy training sessions along the Birmingham canals, and around the 42.2km course!)