This September, Hazel and I are both challenging ourselves to do triathlons.

Hazel will swim 25m, cycle 3km and run 500m (from Didcot to Upton) on 27th September.

I’ll swim 1500m, cycle 50km and run 15km (from Queenford Lakes to Ivinghoe Beacon) on 28th September.

We’re making up the routes ourselves and would love anyone to join us for bits or to cheer us on or celebrate with us after!

We’re doing this for Style Acre, an Oxfordshire charity supporting people with learning disabilities and autism. Style Acre is celebrating 30 years this year - I’ve been working there for nearly 8 of those years now.

I honestly learn so much every single day from the people we support about strength, resilience, overcoming challenges, and embracing individuality. We all need other people to bring out the best in us, and to help us through things we find difficult. Life at Style Acre is all about this, and my heart is constantly warmed by the understanding, love and support I see every day.

I am doing this for every one of the people we support at Style Acre and the people we have had to say goodbye to. I’m also doing it for my colleagues, especially all the amazing support workers who deserve so much more recognition and reward from our society.

Hazel is doing it more for the promise of a medal and ice cream at the end! But she has also met a lot of people from Style Acre, helping me at events, and she understands that difference is not a negative and that kindness is the key to happiness.

I’m also running the Oxford Half Marathon a couple of weeks later on the 12th October with the Style Acre team!

Any support you can show Style Acre by sponsoring Hazel and I will help hugely. The funding environment for charities like ours is tough right now and every little donation makes a big difference to people’s lives.