Team Alcohol Change UK - Royal Parks Half Marathon
Organised by Alcohol Change UKOur wonderful runners are taking on the Royal Parks Half Marathon 2021 to fundraise for Alcohol Change UK.
Story
Why take on the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Alcohol Change UK?
Every day in the UK twenty people die because of alcohol. It can affect anyone, from any walk of life but alcohol harm is not inevitable. With your support, change can happen faster.
We want to build a future in which people drink as a conscious choice, not a default; where the issues which lead to alcohol problems like poverty, mental health issues, homelessness are addressed; where those of us who drink too much, and our loved ones, have access to high-quality support whenever we need it, without shame or stigma.
Our team of wonderful Royal Parks fundraisers are helping to make this a reality.
Simon completed a challenge for Alcohol Change UK - his story is inspiring. After taking on Dry January Simon's life changed and he wanted to make a difference for others.
After a very heavy Christmas and New Year I decided to take a break from alcohol.
Initially my goal was to not drink for January, the hardest part being my birthday on 30 January. That came and went and was probably one of my best birthdays ever. It got me thinking: if I can go without a drink on my birthday, can I take on the challenge of the whole year?
I decided to go for it. It was about two months ago I saw on the Dry January Facebook group that they were looking for people to take part in Ride London 100 for them.
On the day I had to get up at 4am and drive to London from Reading, something I would have really struggled with had I still been drinking.
There were over 20,000 people taking part in the ride. I was enjoying myself whizzing through the closed London streets.
The wind and rain were relentless! Just about the wettest dry challenge ever! I thought, 'this is it, I'm just going to go for it'. I started to enjoy it again through Kingston and Wimbledon and the last 10 miles to the finish seemed all downhill.
Wow! I'd done it. What a day.
So here I am 210 days with not a drop of alcohol, having done this amazing challenge all thanks to Alcohol Change UK and its Dry January Facebook group.
I think my message is, if you want to do something just do it, don't let obstacles get in your way. Alcohol got in my way and I can truly enjoy life without it now. I will definitely be doing the whole year and may never drink again.