I'm running the Great North Run 2017 to help raise funds for my local charity, STARS, who help deaf children all across North Tyneside.

STARS help deaf children in education, as they provide support via a 'Teacher for the deaf' who comes in weekly to check on progress and help out with any problems. They also help the kids with speech development, as this is often slowed down because of hearing difficulties.

As well as this, STARS provide vital equipment to kids which would normally be too expensive for most families, such as

- Microphones that the teacher/speaker wears that sends voice via Bluetooth straight to the kids hearing aids. Its an amazing piece of kit and I wouldn't have done as well in school without one.

- A regular supply of hearing aid maintenance equipment, as well as a test machine that makes sure the hearing aids are performing as needed.

Finally, STARS also provide regular social events, such as cinema trips and meals, which bring together deaf kids of all ages across the area to socialise and get to know each other. This is important as you can often feel like an outsider in certain social situations, however in these events everyone understands and treats each other the same.

I've made many friends through this charity, and would love to see other deaf kids get the same, if not better, help and support I received over the years. So please donate, and thanks for reading!