Hello! :-) 

I am running both Bristol Half Marathon (25 September 2022) and Great South Run (16 October 2022)

However you know me, it's likely you have had a drink (or 3) with me in the past. You also might know I successfully, and very surprisingly, gave up alcohol for a whole year from March 2021 - March 2022. 

Many of us will have been impacted by alcohol in a number of ways ranging from 'minor' things like the odd hangover, dealing with a friend or relative's hangover if you don't drink, or to more serious things like personal alcohol abuse, dependency and miss-use, sexual, mental or physical violence, or the deaths of loved ones as a direct result of alcohol. 

Why am I concerned...?

I am not ashamed to admit I have had, and continue to have, my own challenges with my relationship with alcohol. I'm also comfortable with being uncomfortable enough to say I have been directly affected by sexual and physical assault by others as a result of alcohol. I'm one of the pandemic domestic violence statistics and truly believe I wouldn't be if it wasn't for alcohol. 

My step-brother sadly died from an alcohol related death on New Year's Day 2021, closely followed by my dad a week later; another person whose life was dominated by alcohol and the escapism it provides us. More recently my mum has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis - this resurfaces all the learning and grieving from the last year for me. 

In my year of sobriety I achieved more than I could ever hope for. As someone who grew up in a seaside town with nothing much to do other than cause trouble and drink Lambrini and (shudder...) White Lightening from about 13, I am running these two events to push myself even further and raise awareness of the great work Alcohol Change does.

If I can inspire a handful of you to donate to the cause, swap a beer for a non-alcoholic one, or even look up how many units you're drinking a week and what this might do to your body, I'll have achieved something. 

If you want to talk about anything I have mentioned please get in touch with me - nothing surprises me, and I am really happy to listen or share. I have a reading list too if you're interested. Start with Professor David Nutt. 

Thank you for reading

Tanya