On Sunday 19th December I will be running my 70th Marathon!

I often get asked if I'm a bit crackers and so thought what a perfect way to celebrate this milestone and have decided to embrace the idea and so will be running the Portsmouth Coastal Marathon dressed as a cracker!  But will it be a Christmas one or a Cream Cracker?!!

Luckily, my great friend Sam who I met in 2016 when we were both took part in the Marathon des Sables, is equally as crackers as me and has agreed to come and join the fun.

Therefore, given the time of year, one of us will be a Christmas Cracker and the other a Cream Cracker - even Jacobs have come on board to support!

The more serious reason for the costumes is to continue my quest to break down the stigma associated with mental ill health.  

I've ran marathons dressed as a banana as well as a nut and so thought I'd continue with a term that is often used to describe someone who is mad or more likely, very unwell.

Everyone gets unwell in their life at some point. Everyone physically and so it's not surprising that one in 4 of us also gets unwell mentally.

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity are there to support those who are serving or have served.  It has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. Last year our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 85,000 people in need, from Second World War veterans to young men and women who have served in more recent conflicts, and their families.