Hi, my name is Mia.

I had a hard time at the end of last year regarding my health. I was 20 years old and pregnant with my baby boy, Danny, and ran into difficulties in hospital where I was treated with sepsis. Due to this, I attended hospital many times over the next few months, including the first two months of my baby’s life.

Due to this, my mental health plummeted. Although I had so much support, for which I’m so grateful for, I completely disengaged from my surroundings without family or friends knowing.

In recent months I have since received the operation I needed to get better, and have massively improved my mental health and wellbeing. Danny is perfect and couldn’t be happier to have me as his mummy and for that I’m so grateful.

For a long time I believed my health would never improve and although my anxiety has been at an all time high, I have found so much comfort in running. It has been hugely beneficial for my mind and body and helped me through everything.

I have decided that I’m going to challenge myself this year. I will be running in the Antrim Coast half marathon in August and the Belfast half marathon in September!

That is the first two races I’ve signed up for and I’m sure there’ll be many more to come.

I have chosen Macmillan Cancer Support as the charity I’d like to raise money for as they have done so much for my mummy. During my time in hospital my mummy was diagnosed with cancer. She had to undergo a difficult surgery and chemotherapy. As you can imagine this wasn’t easy for her. I wish more than anything I could have supported her through it but both my dad and the girls at Macmillan made mummy feel much more at ease. Because of this, I want to raise this money as a thank you for those girls and making sure mummy was looked after.

This year will be better than the last and filled with better health and happiness

I love you mum ❤️