Raised: 82%
Target: £1,000.00
Raised so far: £820.00
Donate now

My story

 
Hello and thanks for visiting my JustGiving page.

Yep, I've been talking about it for years but now I have finally decided the time has come to go the distance - and run the first ever Brighton Marathon for YouthNet, a charity that has become really important to me over the last couple of years.

I know people don't always understand quite what YouthNet does and why they should support it - so, if you do want to know more, here is a bit of a summary.
 
YouthNet is a charity that supports young people between the ages of 16 and 24 through a number of online services including websites TheSite.org and Do-it.  Since starting working for YouthNet and seeing daily the issues and concerns young people bring us, I have realised quite how important the work they do is. 16-24 is a hugely critical and vulnerable age for lots of people as they try to find their way in the world.

Today, people between the ages of 16 to 24 are at risk of developing mental health problems, engaging in high-risk behaviour like drug or alcohol abuse, and experiencing debt and unemployment. The rate of teenage pregnancies, STI’s and youth unemployment in the UK is high.  Research shows that four out of five young people now turning to the internet for help and you can understand why. I think I am not the only person who remembers times as a teenager when I felt low, confused or uncertain about how to approach a problem and didn’t want to ask anyone face to face for fear of embarrassment or worries about how to put it into words. Often I think I didn’t even realise that issues I was facing were even things that I could get help with - which only adds to the worry and loneliness.

 Sometimes these issues have simpler answers - how to kiss a boy or where to find out about funding for a college course. Other times they are much more complicated;  how to get help with mood swings, eating disorders, depression and self harm, how to help a friend in need, supporting an alcoholic parent or partner or fears about the future.

 Whatever the issue, TheSite.org tries to equip young people with the information and support they need to work out where to go next, enabling them to make the right decisions for them at the time and helping them feel securer and happier in the choices they do make. As well as the website we have a question and answer service putting young people in touch with experts who can respond quickly, supportively and without judgment to every question we are asked and a busy online community of over 37,000 registered users providing peer to peer support and advice.

“It really is a lifeline in some respects. You can get advice from someone who won't pre-judge you and can over advise. Some things you don't feel you can talk to your family and friends about. You can ask 'The Site' anything and they will take the time to give you an answer that can really help. I think I would have become really depressed had I not been able to talk to 'TheSite', they've made me understand why some things have happened in my life and how I can approach things. I really hope that in the years to come the service is around.”

I hope YouthNet is around in years to come as well! It’s not an easy time for any charity financially at the moment and we need all the support we can get to continue and improve the work we do – so it would be fantastic if you could contribute towards my fundraising efforts!


 

I’ll be updating this page with my attempts at training – I’ve managed 14 miles so far but that’s only made me realise how hard the next 12 will be.  Eeep!

Thanks again!

 

Clare

 

Good luck Clare! Thanks for doing exercise on behalf of all us! Donation by Pete and Nats 20/03/10  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Love and good luck from Granny Donation by John Foster 19/03/10  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Best of luck! Donation by Ben Soffa 18/03/10  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Have a lovely time Clare Donation by Suitpossum 07/03/10  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Good luck Clare! Donation by Jeremy Benson 06/03/10  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck and enjoy! Donation by Olivia de Jager 19/02/10  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Thomas Jarvis 14/02/10  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Clare! Your times look very fast.... well done! Donation by Jaqs 03/02/10  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Thomas Lloyd 24/01/10  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Go go go go go Foster! Donation by Lucy Greaves 22/01/10  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

All the best for the training and the run! Donation by Anon 21/01/10  

£25.00 + £7.05 Gift Aid

Bring some cakes in! Donation by David Coles 21/01/10  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

I'm very proud of you already - you go girl x Donation by Fiz 21/01/10  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

really good move to add send a reminder around on pay day! have total and utter respect for you for doing this! Donation by Leon Clowes 21/01/10  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck Clare - all for a great cause too! :-) Donation by Sam Thomas 21/01/10  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Good luck.....hopefully Ill be there to cheer you and YouthNet on :-) x Donation by Laura O 21/01/10  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

"trudge through the last miles?" I am sure you will fly along powered by all British youth. Donation by Andy & Sue 20/01/10  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Run and be free Donation by The Woodsmen of Long Edge 18/01/10  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck xx Donation by Mystery Man (Richard) 14/01/10  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Donation by Rixy 13/01/10  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck. Just don't get lost... Donation by Olly 12/01/10  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Good luck Clare! x Donation by Kuljeet Jagdev 12/01/10  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

What you're doing is amazing. Good luck - I hope it all goes well. x Donation by Radhika 12/01/10  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

You're mad - might even come and cheer you on! Fiona xxx Donation by Fiona McLeod 12/01/10  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Bahati njema Fostress - muchly in awe! xx Donation by Luce 12/01/10  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck! Donation by Cathlyn Day 12/01/10  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Those poor knees!! Good luck Clare - we'll be thinking of you while we sit by the fire drinking tea!! Donation by Chris Lloyd 11/01/10  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Mairi Levitt 11/01/10  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Heather O'Neill 11/01/10  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Good luck foster! Donation by Mark Winton 11/01/10  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid
Donate now
 
* Total raised online: £720.00
  Offline donations: £100.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £198.85

* Charities pay a small fee for our service.
Find out how much it is and what we do for it.