Hi Everyone I will be running the Nos Galan road race this year to raise funds for two charities that mean a lot to me.

Nos Galan is an annual five-kilometre road running event, held on New Year's Eve in Mountain Ash. It commemorates the legendary Welsh runner Guto Nyth Bran and brings the whole community together with a finale of fireworks and famous sports personality carrying an olympic style flame who lights up the beacon at the end of the race..The first charity I am looking to raise funds for is MIND, a national Mental Health charity that offers advice and support for anyone experiencing mental health problems. Awareness of their work has been recently highlighted with World Mental Health Day promoting global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. We all need to look after our mental as well as physical health.

My second charity is NRAS- National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society. This organisation offers support and advice to those living with this non curable disease. It is a type of disease known as an autoimmune condition. The immune system becomes over active and attacks the lining of the joints causing inflammation, pain and stiffness. RA is a systemic disease, meaning that it doesn’t just affect joints. It can affect a person’s whole system, including organs such as the lungs, heart and eyes. Mindy was diagnosed with RA last year and it has had a devastating effect on both of our lives. It can be controlled much better these days with the advancement of medicines but it’s symptoms are debilitating for the sufferer. There have been many occasions where Mindy has struggled to move, walk and even get up, but those of you who know her, will know how strong and determined she is and she has now got herself to a point where she can live her life as normal as possible knowing her limitations. I would love to raise as much as I can for both of these charities. Your help would be greatly appreciated