30th14th August30thHi Everyone, thanks for taking the time to click on the link and have a look at what I’m doing!

In recent years Radcliffe has been hit with horrendous flooding and many of the families of Radcliffe came together to support eachother. The community of Radcliffe is amazing and humbling - now it is time to help support one of our heritage sites! As a Grade I listed building and having an age of around 900 years, St Marys Church has been an integral part of our community and our ancestors community. Even the founder of Radcliffe was buried there in 1401, James De Radcliffe.

Around 18/24 months ago I had hit rock bottom, I was lost, I had no identity and no self-esteem. When I finally found the strength to take myself away from that situation I had a battle ahead of me with many aspects of my mental health. As I started to regain some confidence I had a burning desire to give thanks but no idea how to and how to have it be as effective as I wanted it to be. I decided to visit my local church. This was such an alien concept to me that you could have told me to wear fancy dress and I’d have turned up in it! The first sermon I was in attendance for was focused on forgiveness, and how we cannot truely live life to its fullest if we did not forgive those around us. I sat in church in tears. How can I forgive the person from my past that caused so much pain and abuse?! I approached the Minister after the service had ended for advice, and cried again. The advice given was to learn to forgive myself first and then look into forgiving others, and so for the past year this is what I have been working on.

Attending church, for me, is not completely about “Believing in God” ir a higher power, it is more about spending that time on a Sunday reflecting on the past week, giving thanks for what has happened, asking for guidance and being forgiven.

I have recently decided to be Baptised, and it was a great feeling. Baptism is about new life and being cleansed of sins, and this was my reasoning behind wanting tk be Baptised. So now I have started my “new life” and have had my past washed away.

St. Mary’s holds an extremely special part in my life and I want to do all I can to help them and show my gratitude for everything they have done for me. So due to this, many of you will know - I like a challenge. I walked the 32km Walking With The Wounded challenges two years in a row and completed them. This time I have challenged myself to a 10hr session on the Cross Trainers (elliptical trainers) at the gym. Its been a while since I’ve done a challenge and the training is on the way! Please, Please, Please give what you can!

The “Summer Fayre” is the weekend of the 24th and 25th of July, and COVID dependant there will be stalls, refreshments and an opportunity to see this beautiful church and all its history! My plan is to take on my challenge on the 23rd of July so I am recovered enough for the Fayre! The challenge will take place at Total Fitness in Whitefield and you’ll be able to speak with my wonderful PT Kyle if you are interested in any training sessions.

Whether you choose to follow a faith or not please donate! I have not done a challenge like this since before I was pregnant and since before I had began spiralling downwards So its going to be a toughie but I’m ready for it! This is not only for the church but to raise awareness of Mental Health.

EVERY MIND MATTERS

For more information about St Marys and Radcliffe’s amazing history (including a bit of Roman influences) please see the link below:

http://www.radcliffeheritage.co.uk

Thanks for taking the time to read and donate!