I am fundraising for The British Tinnitus Association to celebrate their 40th Anniversary and help support the work they do in the world of tinnitus.The British Tinnitus Association is the only national charity specialising in tinnitus support. Their vision is a world where no one suffers from tinnitus. They receive no money directly from the government, so are 100% reliant on the generosity and support of members of the public and grant-making organisations to be able to support people with tinnitus across the UK.

I discovered I had a rare condition called otosclerosis shortly after the birth of my first child 10 years ago, which has caused me to suffer moderate hearing loss and tinnitus.  I can cope with the hearing loss, but some days, the tinnitus is a real struggle.

Imagine having a constant ringing, buzzing or humming in your head, or even a combination of those sounds....all day every day. No let up...not even for a second. You cannot 'hear' silence, it simply doesn't exist.

If kept busy, my mind is drawn away from my tinnitus - a combination of 3 sounds...a high pitched noise, mid tone humming and low pitched noise. If I have time to myself, I find tinnitus distracting and have to resort to a room with noise, otherwise it can drive me crazy. I can't spend time in a quiet room because for me it simply isn't quiet!

I am a keen supporter of the BTA and my 162 mile 'virtual' sponsored walk to Portsmouth will not only help support the work they do, but also help me manage my condition (plus help me get fitter too!). My Fitbit will help me track my progress.  I am hoping to do more than 162 miles - but for someone who does not run, go to the gym, etc, its a good starting point.  From couch to 162 miles in a month.

Thank you for reading this. Your support is very much appreciated.