I am running the London Marathon to raise money for JOCA (Just One Click Away), associated to Welwyn and Hitchin rugby clubs.

JOCA is a welfare committee dedicated to promoting and ensuring pastoral care and general well-being for all members of participating clubs.

Mental illness is an often unspoken about issue and is sadly the biggest killer of young men in the UK aged 22 to 42. If you have a physical injury you report it to your coach and seek advice and go see the club physio, but with mental issues you soldier on and hope it goes away. JOCA aims to destigmatise mental illness and to offer support and guidance in times of need.

As a wife and mother to members of the “Rugby Family” I regularly see the amazing levels of support and camaraderie shown during times of difficulty either on or off the pitch. However, I also recognise the bravado and machismo that hides within the banter between players that makes them unwilling to admit when they need a hand. To combat this JOCA has a simple message, help is Just One Click Away.

The phrase ‘because no one has to try alone’ is very true. Providing support and someone to contact can make all the difference in difficult times. I know while training for the marathon what a difference support makes. Having the backing of my family for my long weekend runs, friends from the rugby club interested in my progress and of course my running buddies at work and home motivating me to go out in the rain/hail/mud/snow for those extra miles, really helps. Visit the JOCA page to read some of the differences the charity has made and to find out more.

https://jocarugby.co.uk/about-joca.html