On 21st April 2024, I will be running the London Marathon, in aid of an incredible charity called ‘With you’. With you are a charity dedicated to helping people with addiction illnesses, as well as supporting the addict’s loved ones. Not many of you will know, but this is a cause that is exceptionally close to my heart.

Addiction still has a huge stigma attached to it and I can guarantee that for the majority, if you say ‘think addict’, a negative thought comes to your head. This was true for past me, but over the last 10 years, my perception of addiction and addicts have changed. 

I can’t talk about what it’s like to be addicted to something that fully consumes you and impacts all aspects of life negatively but, I can come at this from the point of view of someone who has watched a human they love and care for, fall onto the path of addiction. 

From the get go, I thought I could come up with new ways to help, ways to fix, ways to support.  I went out drinking with them just to make sure they were safe and ok. I researched addiction. I spent hours out looking in my car to get them to go home home. I called and called hoping they’d answer. I contacted their friends to find out if they were with them. I’d find reasons to ‘pop’ in and check they were ok. I’d talk and talk about it whenever I saw them, trying to find a way to get them to speak to me. I prayed. I asked professionals for advice and used online chats to get support. It all led to heartache, worry and a general feeling of hopelessness and despair - all of which was because of the choices I was making, not my loved one’s addiction.

In recent months, I reached out to a friend in recovery (he is incredible and I am beyond proud of him) - he pointed me in the direction of a group called Al-Anon which I attend weekly now with some incredible humans. Through these meetings, alongside using ‘with you’ online chat, I’ve started to be able to understand addiction, the part I can play and how to alter my behaviour and thinking. 

Now, I ensure that I don’t talk about the addiction to them unless they initiate it, my loved one has far more about them than the label of an addict and berate them self without me discussing it. I constantly remind myself that it’s an illness, not a choice. I go to meetings and read literature to support me. I come from a place of kindness and love, not to fix or actively help. 

Addiction is a scary, heartbreaking, genuine illness which isn’t spoken about enough. Addicts are not bad people, they’re poorly and need proper, professional support, when they’re ready to receive it. ‘With you’ does this, which is why I am running for them.

If you could spare some pennies to get me to my target - I’d be forever grateful. 

To the addicts in my life - I love you, I’m proud of you and I’ll always be your biggest cheerleader 💛

‘Everyone should feel comfortable getting the support they need for issues with drugs, alcohol or mental health.With You work with people on their o