I’m Running the Great North Run for The Sick Children's Trust and TOFS

On the 7th of September, I’ll be running the Great North Run to raise money for two incredible charities that have supported my family in ways I’ll never forget.

In April 2023, our beautiful son Albie was born with a rare condition called Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula (TOF). We had never even heard of it before. His first few months were spent in and out of intensive care at Newcastle RVI, facing multiple operations and a frightening diagnosis of severe tracheomalacia (floppy airways). It was one of the hardest times we’ve ever experienced.

Thanks to the brilliant surgical and medical teams, and the unwavering love and support of our family and friends, Albie is now a happy, thriving little boy. But we could not have made it through without two vital charities.

⭐ The Sick Children’s Trust

Crawford House became our sanctuary. We live 50 miles away from the hospital, and the thought of making that journey every day while Albie was in intensive care – or being separated from him – was unimaginable. The Sick Children’s Trust gave us a “home from home,” just minutes away from his bedside.

Even more, they welcomed my husband and our two older boys, allowing us to be together as a family on weekends during such a traumatic time. They provided accommodation not just during Albie’s birth and first surgeries in April, but again in June when he needed life-saving treatment. We’ll be forever grateful. It’s hard to put into words just how vital this charity is for families like ours.

⭐ TOFS (Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula Support)

TOFS was there for us from day one. Navigating an overwhelming diagnosis, their community became a lifeline. They provided guidance, reassurance, and the knowledge that we weren’t alone. Every journey with TOF is different, but having a group of people who truly understand makes the world of difference.

TOFS funds vital research, promotes clinical awareness, and supports families every step of the way – not just in the early days, but as children like Albie grow and begin to understand their own condition. I want Albie to know, when he’s older, that he has a whole community standing behind him.

I’m training hard for those 13.1 miles – every step is for Albie, and for every family who’s faced those terrifying early days in hospital.

If you can, please donate to The Sick Children’s Trust and TOFS. Every single penny counts and helps keep these incredible charities running. And if now’s not the right time to give, just sharing this page would mean the world to me.

Thank you so much for your support. 💙🏃‍♀️