On Sunday 16 April I will be taking part in the Manchester Marathon. I keep telling myself this is my last 'swan song' or maybe it's just madness!

I would like to raise money to support a very worthwhile, small, local charity called Clockwork, in memory of my nephew Joseph who died last year.

A little about Joseph:

Joseph was 27 when he died last year of alcohol related liver disease. I don’t think we realised he had an issue with alcohol until he became ill, we just thought he was a social butterfly. He liked a simple life, he was a lover not a fighter and he knew how to have fun.

Joseph experienced a number of life changing challenges during his life. The biggest being the death of his mum when he was 13. I wonder if he had had access to a wonderful charity like Clockwork for support at that time if things might have been different and he would still be with us today.

But sadly he isn’t …. Joseph was a very caring person and was always there for his friends if they needed a listening ear or a little support. That is why I would like to raise money for Clockwork to support the work they do for young people who might be struggling and need a listening ear or a little support.

A little about Clockwork:

The Clockwork Charitable Trust is a registered charity based in Oxted in Surrey, which offers support and information to young adults in the area and the surrounding district suffering with depression and anxiety, with the aim of helping to relieve this suffering.

Clockwork seeks to achieve its aim through two primary means: by providing financial assistance to help young people access local counselling and mental health services; and by seeking to promote and protect good mental health, through services such as peer listening, support groups and information provision. Here is a link to their page to find out more: www.clockwork.org.uk