08/09/2026
❤️ It’s Finally Big Race Week – Please help me raise as much money as we can! ❤️
This Sunday, I will be taking on the Great North Run — but this isn’t just a race. It’s a run for someone I love and miss extremely, and someone I wishes more than anything was still here to see me do it.
I am running in memory of my bestie, Claire, and to raise money for Headway in her honour.
I have been best mates with Claire since 2003.
For nearly 30 years, Claire and her husband Simon — my childhood friend — have been such a huge part of my life. They’ve been there through the good times, the difficult times, the celebrations and everything in between. They gave their time, love, energy and kindness so freely, never expecting anything in return.
Tragically, last November, Claire suffered a brain aneurysm. After the bravest of battles, she sadly lost her fight, surrounded by her incredible family — leaving behind a huge hole in the lives of everyone who loved her.
And perhaps most heartbreakingly, she leaves behind her beautiful daughter, Rosie, who has shown a strength and bravery over the last nine months that is unlike anything I have ever seen. ❤️
If Claire had survived, there is no doubt that she would have needed the support of Headway. By coincidence, it was also a charity very close to her heart, having supported her brother following an unrelated brain injury.
Claire never needed to ask me for my support. She was simply there — always.
So, this weekend, I want to do something in return. Not because I can repay everything Claire gave me but because this is my way of carrying her kindness forward.
Claire would have told me to do something positive. She would have told me not to sit and sink into the grief, but to get up, do something worthwhile and make a difference.
So that’s exactly what I’m doing.
I’ll be running every mile with Claire in my thoughts, carrying her memory with me and hopefully turning an incredibly painful loss into something that can help other families facing the devastating effects of brain injury.
Sadly, my daughter Ellie has had to pull out of the run herself due to a foot injury. But she’s not getting off that easily! 😂
She’ll be taking on an equally important role as our social media correspondent, capturing as much of the weekend as possible.
We know it’s going to be an incredibly emotional day. There will probably be tears, laughter, and a lot of memories — and we hope to share as much of it with you as we can.
🎯 Our target is £3,000 — and we’re already more than halfway there!
If you can spare anything at all, please consider donating. And if you can’t donate, sharing this post could make just as much difference.
Every single contribution will help Headway support people and families whose lives have been changed by brain injury. Most importantly, every donation helps us keep a little piece of Claire’s incredible spirit alive.
For Claire. For Simon. For Rosie. For all the families who need Headway. ❤️
Please donate, share, or simply support me from the sidelines this Sunday.
👉 https://www.justgiving.com/page/neil-and-ellie?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL&fbclid=IwY2xjawUM0INwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMERXblBBZnRaYVo4c1JWbk1zcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEerYU_AnvHQzlRvnpf2_gOZZIYVLl6qxxSksknZmZk6XVaNhz_8KyeYfvVskI_aem_Apo2SsqVJo2QhKR_9Jqlng
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Neil, Eloise & all the Iguazu Team ❤️
About Headway - the brain injury association...
Headway is headquartered in Notts and have a fantastic store on Beeston High Road - Headway Uk Beeston Shop.
They are always in need of your unwanted items, and always need more customers, so if you would like to support them in person you can find them at 71-73 High Road, Beeston!
Every 90 seconds, someone is admitted to a UK hospital with a brain injury. Whether because of head injury, tumour, stroke, haemorrhage or neurological infection, the effects of a brain injury can be life-changing and life-long. That’s why, when the unthinkable happens, expert help is vital.
