I have been making the effort to do a bit of exercise every day during lockdown, but was inspired by the 2.6 challenge to motivate me to do more and hopefully raise some money. I'm planning to run (or walk) at least 2.6 miles (about 4.2km) every day for the next 26 days.

Charities are missing out on one of their biggest fundraisers of the year with the postponement of the London Marathon, and the 2.6 challenge is a way to hopefully help raise money which is vitally needed during these strange times.

I've chosen Refuge as I'm alarmed by the sharp rise in the reports of domestic abuse since lockdown began last month. 1.6 million women experienced domestic abuse last year, and self-isolation has the potential to aggravate pre-existing abusive behaviours by perpetrators.

While in lockdown or self-isolation, women and children are likely to be spending concentrated periods of time with perpetrators, potentially escalating the threat of domestic abuse and further restricting their freedom.

Domestic abuse isn’t always physical – it’s a pattern of controlling, threatening and coercive behaviour, which can also be emotional, economic, psychological or sexual. Abuse is a choice a perpetrator makes, and isolation is already used by many perpetrators as a tool of control.

In the current climate, it is certainly more challenging for women suffering abuse. Lines of communication could be severely limited if women are unable to leave the home.

Refuge wants to reassure those experiencing abuse that they are not alone. Our services remain open and we have contingency plans in place for all of our services, including refuges, community-based services and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge.

I want to raise as much money as possible for Refuge to ensure that these services can continue during the lockdown period and beyond.