The Charity:

Nacoa (The National Association for Children of Alcoholics) is a Bristol based charity founded in 1990 to provide help and support for everyone affected by a parent’s drinking. We believe that every child has the right to a happy childhood and to live a creative and
meaningful life but when drink is the family secret they are more likely to experience family violence, neglect and other problems in their own homes.

My Story:

On September 21^st 2016 my Dad sadly passed away due to a lifetime of alcohol dependency. As a way to honour his life and legacy I have decided, along with my mum, to take part in a 5km (3.25 miles) tough mudder exactly 1 year and 1 week after that dreadful day.

Ever since I first understood what alcohol dependency was and how it had affected my Dad and my family, fighting against it became a very close cause to my heart. When I think about my Dad and what he stood for, his charity and non-profit work immediately comes to mind. So as his upcoming anniversary is drawing closer I thought what would be a better way to honour his life and legacy then to raise money for a cause that is very close to my heart.

At the age of 11 I began to take out aggression on my teachers at school to let off steam about my parents divorce and my Dad’s deteriorating health. I was recommended to a child’s psychotherapist named Julie. Her help and guidance changed my life and I would not be the same girl I am today without her. This is why it breaks my heart to think that millions of children have to go through a similar situation with out any help. Nacoa provides therapy and support for children, like me, who have had to grow up with one or two alcohol dependent parents.

Having someone else there who understands exactly what you and your family are going through makes a huge difference and it allowed me to except that my dad had a disease that he couldn’t control and a dependency that took over his life. So instead of sitting at home on his one-year anniversary I will be getting ready for one of the hardest races I have ever done in order to put a positive spin on his life. I can already tell that where ever he is, he will be laughing that laugh that we all know too well thinking that I’m crazy and he will probably say as he has done many times before not to “wuss” out.

I read a very important message in the past year and that is that people have two deaths: the first is their physical death and the second is the last time anyone ever says their name. So I hope that
this race will help to make my dad live forever in everyone’s hearts.

Georgia Linsdell-Enders