I always said that if I did a sponsored event, it would be something that I hate to make it worth your money. I hate running for the sake of running, and signing up for *only* a half marathon does not give the same selfish bragging rights as doing a full one.

This weekend I'm "competing in" the Wilmslow Half Marathon, and I'd like to do it in support of a local charity called Yewdale Counselling Services. Yewdale is a charity based in Skelmersdale where their amazing volunteers give their time and expertise for free to listen to and help people who might feel that they have no-one else to talk to.

To someone in trouble, this can be invaluable - feeling isolated can be as debilitating as any problem causing it. Figures released on Time to Talk Day in 2018 reveal two thirds (66%) of people in the UK feel they have no one to talk to when it comes to personal conversations on topics such as mental health, money problems and relationships. When asked why, the top reasons were: never being able to find the right time, or the right place.

However, not everyone can afford the typical fees of up to £60-70 an hour for help. Volunteer based services like Yewdale are so important in giving people the time and place to talk and be heard.

I plan on running this half marathon in just less than two hours and so would like to raise £120 - two one hour sessions if someone had to pay. A course of 6 sessions would cost (you guessed it!) £360.

Thanks for your help.