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.

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!

Training update!

I've done 18 miles now - in 2 hours 27 minutes. I will try and do another long one and then taper down to the day - its less than a month away now!

We also received this great feedback on askTheSite (the section of YouthNet where I work) this week and I wanted to share it with you. Thanks for helping us do this;

"I can only express my gratitude for understanding what I was unknowingly experiencing in my own head. I've never ever been able to talk with anyone abt personal problems&I feel the advice given has been life changing for me.This is no agony-aunt site, these people are professionals."

Thanks again!

Clare