4 Nations Marathons...

This year, I am taking on the challenge of running a marathon in each of the four home nations: The Great Welsh, Manchester, Belfast, and Edinburgh marathons, taking place between March and May.

You may not often be asked to support charities like these. The taboo and stigma surrounding the issues they address meaning that securing awareness, support, and funding is especially difficult. I am aiming to raise £3,000 (a big ask, I know), which will be shared between two charities close to my heart.

The first is First Step in Leicester, which supports male survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The funds raised would be equivalent to covering the cost of an extended course of counselling delivered by fully trained specialists.

The support this organisation provides can be life-changing, helping individuals move forward from being a victim to becoming a survivor. I have included links below if you would like to learn more about the vital services they offer.

https://firststepleicester.org.uk/

First Step...

First Step Leicester was founded on 29 May 1997 by two male survivors and a small group of volunteers determined to support male survivors of sexual abuse.

It began as a modest operation from a single rented room, relying entirely on volunteer effort and minimal resources.

The charity provides free, confidential counselling and support to male survivors aged 13 and above, as well as to their supporters (family, partners, loved ones).

Over time, with funding from charitable trusts, foundations and public sources (including the Ministry of Justice), First Step expanded its volunteer counsellor base and service offering to meet growing demand.

In 2016 First Step became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), enabling it to lease a discreet, city-centre premises in Leicester with multiple counselling rooms — offering a safe, accessible space without stigma.

The charity continually adapts: it extended support to include teenagers (aged 13+), offers peer support groups, advocacy services, and support for survivors’ families or supporters.

First Step now has around 25 volunteer counsellors, delivering nearly 2,000 counselling sessions per year.

Between 2019 and 2021 alone, they supported 265 clients with almost 4,000 sessions, underlining their growing impact and the demand for their services.

The organisation’s approach emphasises safety, respect, confidentiality, and letting individuals proceed at their own pace — creating a non-judgemental environment for healing and recovery.

First Step Leicester fills a vital gap: it supports a group often overlooked — male survivors of sexual abuse — giving them a specialised, dedicated place to seek help, begin recovery, and reconnect with their lives.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

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