I have loved distance running since my school days, but in my twenties developed a knee problem which put pay to my marathon and ultra running ambitions.  Miraculously, last year during lockdown, my knee problems went away and, at the ripe old age of forty-five I have decided now is the time to run really far, so I entered a forty-five mile ultra!

The Endurancelife Classic Quarter

https://www.endurancelife.com/classic-quarter

is a relentless Ultra Marathon along the south Cornish coast from Lizard Point to Land's End.  The task is brutally simple: to run non-stop from the southernmost point of England (Lizard Point), to the western most tip (Lands End), along the legendary South West Coast Path. This translates to running 90 degrees of the compass, hence the name, Classic Quarter.

Here’s a bit about the charity I am supporting, and where I am the Clinical Lead:

The Swan Project offers low-cost, long-term counselling primarily to people experiencing and recovering from addiction.  Located close to the centre of Bristol their philosophy of offering long-term counselling support is unique within Bristol and valued by clients and other agencies working in the field.  

The Swan Project works with more than 300 clients annually, supporting them to transform their lives.  This benefits them, as-well-as having a positive knock on effect on the people they are close to and benefiting the wider community.

Many of the people The Swan Project work with are extremely vulnerable, and would otherwise find it hard to access therapy.  This could be due to financial difficulties, or because they are from a hard to reach group, for example, suffering from long term mental health conditions, or recovering from homelessness, trauma or domestic violence. 

If you feel moved to support this excellent cause I would be really grateful.