I would like to thank many people for the support they have given me and are continuing to give me throughout this challenge.

Firstly, my parents, Ann and Peter and my sister Rebecca, who have been invaluable to me as I have aimed to raise awareness of my condition and have picked me up when training has been hard.

I would also like to thank my extended family for all their support and good wishes and thanks go to Chris, my sister’s fiancé and his family for their sponsorship and support.

My employers Rapport have provided much encouragement over the weeks and months and I would like to thank Neil, Stewart, Steve, Simon, Jason, Susan and Carol for their continued support. Thanks also go to their families and to Claire and Sarah and their families.

Thank you to Sarah Himelfield, a great friend and fantastic person who has offered so much, and to everyone at The Brain and Spine Foundation.

Thank you to friends not mentioned here and anyone I may have missed and to all those who have offered support or donated money.

Many thanks must also go to The Warwickshire Health and Raquets Club for all their help under the excellent management of Jane Tress. Since Jane’s arrival last year the club has been a fantastic place to train and a great source of information and support.

For that reason I must thank everyone on reception and all the office staff including Jo Fossick and Emma King and all other members of staff at the club who know me.

Thanks also go to the gym team, under the new management of Michelle Cornish. I would like to thank in no particular order, Laura, Sean, Sam, Ben, Matt, Ian, Alex M and Lindsay for their help and advice. The personal training team have also offered me much support and I would like to thank Darren Checkley for the work that he has done with me and the advice he has given.

Thank you to the members who have given their support to me.

Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank two people who, without their expertise and support, I would not be in a position to attempt this challenge. The first is a woman who has kept my body in excellent shape and seems to have a knack of banishing injuries at will. Gisella, I am forever indebted to you for making my legs work again after the injuries I have endured in the last 12 months.

The second person is a great friend and running partner who is also set to complete a marathon this year. Naemi, you're a fantastic person who has listened to me whitter on for hours on end. You're an inspiration, thanks for being there.