Running the London Marathon

Many of you will know that I will be running the London Marathon - and have been making sure I have got the miles in my legs despite it being freezing outside.

I had been training Lesley for a few months before she told me her story and it moved me so much I knew I had to help her raise money for a special cause - the HELP appeal, the only charity in the country that funds hospital helipads.

But the reason behind Lesley working for this charity is something that no parent, or mother, should have to experience - losing a child in a car accident.

Her only child Tom was just 11-years-old when he was in a road accident and had to be airlifted to hospital. However with nowhere to land at the site itself, the pilot had to land closeby.

Lesley said: “When my son was airlifted by air ambulance to the hospital, they had to land at a police station opposite – it was the closest place at the time.

“As you can imagine a huge crowd of people gathered to see the air ambulance. It was the most harrowing experience anyone can go through as I did not want them to see Tom being wheeled into the hospital. The slick operation of getting us to hospital was let down by the fact we had to land on the road as there was no helipad on site,” she added.

Unfortunately, the hospital staff were unable to help Tom as his injuries were too severe and he passed away.

Lesley decided to quit her job as a hairdresser and work for the County Air Ambulance, and work on this appeal - and so I decided I wanted to help her in my own little way. I knew straight away I had to support her in my own way, so when I heard of the HELP Appeal, it was the perfect match to then run the London Marathon along the way.

I am looking forward to seeing her along the route and giving her a big hug at the end. I am asking all my other clients who know her and friends to also help raise the money.

“Helipads save time and save lives so hopefully everything I raise can go towards building the next one – it could save someone’s life."

The HELP Appeal has already built 20 hospital helipads across the UK and another 24 are in the pipeline.

Over 7,600 critically ill patients have now landed on HELP Appeal funded helipads, which are built as close to the emergency department as possible to give the patient access to emergency care immediately and increase their chances of survival.

To sponsor me and help reach the target of £800, please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/RaulRomero

If you can only spare a bit, I do also have a few HELP wristbands and water bottles at the studio - all donations gratefully received and all money will go directly to the charity!

Thank you all!