In April I’ll be running the London Marathon to raise money for the Milton Keynes branch of Samaritans.

I am a listening volunteer with the Milton Keynes branch of Samaritans. Every day, people contact Samaritans because they are struggling – sometimes with loneliness, grief, stress, or thoughts that feel too heavy to carry alone. The service offers a safe, non-judgemental space where people can simply be heard.

The Milton Keynes branch is self-funded, run largely by volunteers and relies on donations to keep its services running. The sense of community within the branch is just brilliant. I never met such a thoughtful, kind and supportive group of people. We support each other with kindness so that we can do our best for the callers when they need us most. To keep the branch running, we urgently need donations. Funds raised help support volunteer training, maintain essential branch facilities, and ensure that Milton Keynes Samaritans can continue to be there for anyone who needs to talk – day or night.

I am so excited to be running the London Marathon, I couldn't believe it when I got a ballot place! And I'm really proud to be supporting a charity that has become such a big and important part of my life. I honestly feel that the work we do at Samaritans is so worth while.

If you’re able to support me, any donation – big or small – will help ensure that Samaritans can continue to provide a life-saving listening service.

Thank you so much for reading and supporting!