8 May 2025

When twin mum Portia signed up for the Bristol 10k run, as someone who isn’t a natural runner, she was a little apprehensive.

Now with just days to go until the big event, Portia is ready to take on the route and make it to the finish line. For part of the run, she’ll have her husband, Alex, nearby as he’s running a half marathon on the same day. She decided to run the Bristol 10k and raise funds for Twins Trust after she was supported by the charity on a number of occasions, including ringing the helpline and to discuss deferring her children starting school. Her twin girls were born in August 2020.

She said: “I cried when I found out I was having twins. My sisters are twins and it runs in my family. I always grew up thinking it was going to be me having twins and then it did happen. My husband was shocked at the time when we found out and I was in disbelief there were two babies.”

The couple later discovered they were expecting MCMA twins and had regular scans as the pregnancy continued. Portia added: “It was a stressful pregnancy – I had a lot of scans on my own as it was during the Covid pandemic. At the 16-week scan they confirmed the babies were MCMA and they confirmed they were girls. I had a few worries about lack of movement but I was monitored. At the 30-week scan, the consultants said the babies needed to come out in two days. I had the steroid injections and then I went in for a C-section. They were due on October 15 but they were born on August 12.”

The babies were transferred straight into NICU, while Portia was cared for following a haemorrhage after birth. Two days later, Portia was able to have her first cuddle with the girls, India and Mila. The girls were in hospital for 45 days before being able to come home.

As Portia prepares for the Bristol 10K, she spoke about how she’s been supported by Twins Trust. “Twins Trust was the first charity I thought of supporting when I thought about doing the run. I’ve called the helpline a few times and I’ve had help regarding the girls’ schooling as I delayed them starting for a year. I couldn’t have done that at all without the help of Twins Trust.

"Running is a new thing for me, I’ve never run. I’m nervous but I’m excited for the day.”

Head to Portia's fundraising page to sponsor her.