*Currently drinking hot chocolate and eating a chocolate bar while I edit this page*

I’m taking on a DECHOX this March and challenging myself to give up chocolate for 31 days to raise funds towards a BrailleNote Touch for Isabelle (see below). That means absolutely no chocolate bars, no chocolate cake, no choccy biscuits with my tea, not even any chocolate sprinkles on my cappuccino are allowed. It’ll be no Fruit and Nut, which is why I need your kind support.

AH! What have I signed myself up for?! How will I survive?!

Okay, so it's no 'Gregathlon' BUT I have a sordid love affair with chocolate (Turkish Delights in particular- don't judge me) which I will be giving up 100% from Sunday 1st April to Monday 30th April. It will be a personal challenge and one I am excited to complete.

Alongside, I will be running the Southampton 10k on Sunday 22nd April, my first ever 10k! Very nervous but I will finally be forcing myself to train. If you're local, come and support, it will mean the world.

But let's get serious. My cousin, Isabelle Cooper was born with an extremely rare inherited retinal degenerative disease, LCA (Leber Congenital Amaurosis). This means that in her 4 years, she has had a dramatic loss of vision and sensitivity to bright light. She is amazing and alongside regular check ups and appointments to the eye hospitals, has been learning braille in school with the help of a BrailleNote Touch. The tablet is owned by the school, so unlike other children who can take books home to continue learning and reading, Isabelle cannot. I am raising money to help fund the tablet, which currently costs £4000 in total.

This fundraising is very close to home, and so any donations will be incredible. Thank you. And in the meantime,

LET'S DO THIS!