Do you want your name on my arm? (Strange question - read on and find out more!)

No, I haven't re-shared my page from last year by mistake! For some reason I've decided to do it all again and put my body, sanity, and toenails on the line once more.

I'm still a very part-time runner, but the opportunity to run one of the world's most famous marathons AND raise money for the brilliant Step Together Volunteering was too good to turn down.

This year funds are needed more than ever - the funding climate facing small charities is particularly challenging, but at Step Together Volunteering we are committed to the people we support and will not give up on them. I continue to be humbled by the dedication and professionalism of my colleagues who support people who often feel as if they have run out of options. All the people we support face multiple disadvantage. This could come from childhood trauma, growing up in poverty, having a disability or health condition, experiencing poor mental health, having experience of the criminal justice system or being affected by service in the Armed Forces. The multiplicity and complexity of the challenges they face mean that other prescriptive and time-limited support services are not able to meet their needs.

We do things a little differently at Step Together Volunteering: there are no time limits on our support, or specific courses/programmes to follow. The people we support have circumstances that are often complicated, and the chronic challenges they face require mindset and lifestyle changes that take time to implement and make permanent. Each person we work with is treated as an individual and the support offered is tailored to their needs, circumstances, and aspirations. We meet people where they are - figuratively and literally, as we offer an outreach service - and we work at their pace, supporting them to build their confidence, self-esteem, and resilience.

As our name suggests, we also support people into volunteering to help them develop skills and gain experience to aid progression into training or employment. Each person is carefully matched to volunteering opportunities that align with their strengths and interests. Volunteering as a tool is well placed to support those living in complex circumstances; it offers flexibility and a supportive environment in which people can grow in self-belief and plan for a brighter future. Each year we support people to provide hundreds of hours of volunteering to small charities and community-based organisations, empowering them to make a real difference in their communities.

If you've got this far - thanks for sticking with me! Hopefully you'll agree that this is a worthwhile cause to support. Any donation would be VERY gratefully received. Even though I've done this before, I'm still terrified. The support I received last year was such a brilliant motivation to get round the 26.2 miles.

And your name on my arm? In recognition of your support, you can have your name on my arm on the day! (Unless of course you'd rather not.) As each mile passes, I'll be thinking of those who have supported me and sending you lots of grateful vibes. (It's a great distraction from the actual running, too!) Mile 13 (over Tower Bridge) will always be for my Daddy.

Thank you!

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.