Mel Sykes is a podiatrist working for Locala and she supports CHFT's patients by seeing them regularly in our diabetic foot clinics.

Mel was diagnosed with Chiari malformation, which is where the lower part of the brain pushes down into the spinal canal, affecting a person's balance. After her diagnosis in September 2023, she was told she may never be able to run again.

After having brain surgery at Leeds General Infirmary in the October, Mel began her recovery journey starting off with small walks to the end of her street and back. By the end of December, she was able to start some slow running again. Already an incredible achievement.

A year ago she ran her first 18-mile race, just four months after brain surgery. Now she has just come back from her biggest race so far, a 268-mile endurance run called the Spine Race, which takes place along the Pennine Way from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland.

Mel said: "This has been the final piece to my recovery. It felt amazing to complete the race, such a sense of achievement. Some of my high points were summiting Cross Fell and going along Hadrian's Wall in the sunshine.

"The low points were almost getting hypothermia, and also the sleep walking and hallucinations! But I kept thinking about how grateful I was to be able to run and enter events again, that's what got be through those low points.

"If there's anyone going through something similar, my advice is to try to keep positive and have a goal to aim for to keep you focused on recovery."

What a fantastic achievement.