On Sunday 18th October, I’ll be taking on the Great South Run right here in my home town of Portsmouth, and this year I’m running for a cause that I think is incredibly important: Samaritans.

Life can be tough. Sometimes it can feel like nobody else understands, or that everything is becoming too much to handle. At those moments, having someone there to simply listen can make an enormous difference.

That’s what Samaritans do. They don’t judge you or tell you what to do. They listen, day or night, so that no one has to face difficult times alone.

Every 10 seconds, Samaritans answers a call for help. Their 23,000 listening volunteers are there around the clock, 365 days a year, but they can only continue that vital work because of donations.

So, while I’ll be running 10 miles through the streets of the city I call home, I’d love to turn those miles into something that can help someone else get through a difficult moment.

If you can spare anything at all, please consider sponsoring me. Every donation, however big or small, helps Samaritans be there for someone today, so they can believe in tomorrow.

Thank you for your support.

If you’re struggling, Samaritans are there to listen, free of charge, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on 116 123.