On Sunday 24^th
April, Rob Johnstone and Mario Sansone will be embarking on a huge personal
challenge as they look to complete the London Marathon.

The idea of
running 26.2 miles feels very real right now.  Injuries are becoming
frequent and more painful; the dark, cold mornings and evenings are crushing
morale; and the financial burden of energy gels, rehydration potions and cod
liver oil is crippling!

We are running
for Action on Pre-eclampsia (APEC).  APEC are a small charity who
help raise awareness, raise money and care for people who are affected by
Pre-eclampsia.

The reasons for running for this charity are very close to
our hearts – one of our good friends wives suffered from a severe case of
pre-eclampsia when giving birth to their first child. Further tests were
carried out and it became clear that Natalie had HELLP Syndrome, a life
threatening obstetric complication usually considered to be a variant of
pre-eclampsia. Natalie’s liver capsule ruptured during child birth and resulted
in a massive hematoma. She was placed in an induced coma, and suffered multiple
organ failure.

Stoke Mandeville Hospital managed to stabilise Natalie but
after 10 days there was no further improvement so she was transferred to Kings
College Hospital Liver ITU. After receiving amazing care and treatment from the
doctors and nurses there, Natalie was brought round from her coma after 5 weeks
and slowly began to recover.

Natalie had to learn to walk and care for herself all over
again, as well looking after a little baby but with her strength and
determination, and love and support from her family and friends she was soon on
her way to recovery.

The care that Natalie received in King’s College Hospital
Liver ITU was second to none. The hard work, support, care and level of
commitment they showed was outstanding and Natalie would not be where she is
today without all of the staff that treated her. They undoubtedly saved her
life.

We are hoping that by supporting Action On Pre-Eclampsia
they will raise public and professional awareness, improve care, and ease or
prevent physical and emotional suffering caused by the disorder.

We understand
that you cannot support everyone, but if you can please donate and give us that
added motivation to complete this major challenge for us both.

"We are different, in
essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 metres. If you
want to experience something, run a marathon." - Emil Zatopek