OCD is a hugely debilitating and incredibly misunderstood mental illness that affects around 741,504 in the UK at any one time, with a disproportionately high number, 50% of all these cases, falling into the severe category. It is so important those suffering with this disease  to help them live but equally as important that people take the time to understand the disease and don't minimise and trivialise the mental illness that can consume their whole lives.

The trivialisation and mocking of OCD is so entrenched in the media and society and it HAS to be challenged and changed. 

People laugh that they're 'so OCD' because they like their room to be neat, or because they find it pleasing when skittles are separated into their colours.

Channel 4 names their show 'Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners' when those who feature just like a clean house and aren't diagnosed with OCD.

Khloe Kardashian makes a video web series on her organisational life hacks coining it 'Khlo-CD'

Mugs and tshirts are being sold with slogans like 'I have OCD: Obsessive Christmas Disorder' or memes with 'Hardest OCD decision ever' referring to the trade off of whether you get your petrol to a full litre or get the cost to a full pound.

OCD is consistently trivialised, minimised and stereotyped in ways that seriously harm those who suffer from it. 

OCD is a 9 year old child thinking they will genuinely kill their parents if they don't eat their cereal an even number of minutes. 

OCD is a man terrified to leave his house because he might leave the gas on and his house will burst into flames.

OCD is a young teenage girl unable to stop herself from thinking about engaging in sexual behaviour that feels upsetting and repulsive to her.

OCD is a father believing that he's going to drown his children if he gives them a bath if he doesn't follow a specific ritual.

Not only do I want to raise money to support this amazing charity, but I also want to raise awareness. If I can get one person to think twice before they speak then I will consider all the shin splints and blisters that i'll inevitably get from running this half marathon, 100% worth it.