After 40 years sat on my arse I took up running in 2015.  It helped me through a difficult time by clearing my head, improving my health and helping me to set and achieve a new type of goal. 

I volunteered with homeless support groups in Manchester and it was clear that many homeless people suffer complex issues with substance use, mental health, self image etc, which can be very difficult to overcome and are compounded by the day-to-day realities of life on the streets.  To help people in this situation to achieve their potential requires a range of expertise, skills and resources and even then everyone has the potential to lapse.  I feel that prevention is much more effective than cure, and effort and money invested in helping people at risk of homelessness to build their confidence and make the right choices in life is paramount.  I have recently started to volunteer with the Running Charity and I am in awe of the spirit, attitude and sense of achievement that running and the charity's support has brought to the young people they work with.

The Running Charity believes that running is as good for your mind as it is for your body. Running builds resilience and self-esteem, and we use this to improve the lives of 16-25 year-olds who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Homelessness can happen at any time and to anyone. And when it happens to a young person it can affect them for the rest of their life. We use running to improve fitness and instil a goal-setting mentality that are key tools in helping these vulnerable young people to build healthy, sustainable futures.

I was always the fat asthmatic kid at school and I considered running a lap of a track beyond me.  I would never have believed I could run a 10K, let alone the multiple 50-mile races I have in 2017.  This race however is a whole new challenge because after running 50 miles, I will have to do the same again, and again, and again.  The physical and mental challenges of this type of race are immense but hopefully around 4 days after leaving St Bees, I will arrive in Robin Hood's Bay with 190 miles (305 Km) and 28,000 feet (8,500m) of ascent behind me.

The work of the Running Charity has inspired me to take on this challenge.  I hope to raise most of my target through the generosity of the people and companies within the casino industry but anything you can offer would be greatly appreciated and wisely invested by this great charity.

www.veganrunners.org.uk

www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan