I’ve signed up to run the Lincoln Half Marathon in October. Have I run that distance before? Absolutely not. 😬 I’ll spend the next 12 weeks (if I’ve calculated that properly) working on a plan to get ready for the race. The day of the race will be the first time I’ve ever run 21.1km. Is that a silly idea? Yep. But it adds a bit of drama to it all. That said, I’ve been doing a bit of running. I’ve been running casually for a few years now, and I ran my first race this year (10k), so your money won’t be wasted! I’m determined to get this finished, even if I have to drag myself over the finish line.

Fundraising is another big motivator. If I’m going to push myself through this, it’d be nice to raise some money for folks. Ultimately, that’s where you lovely people come in. I only have to turn up on the day, but I’ll be hounding you for your hard-earned cash, when, let’s face it, the world is a bit of a shit show at the mo. For those of your who aren’t in a position to donate right now, sharing the page is a massive help!

SpecialEffect is a charity that speaks to me on many levels. I’ve always been a massive fan of video games, so it’s a natural fit in that regard. Now, honestly, people may scoff at the idea of donating to a charity that lets children play video games, but it’s more than that. Video games are many things to many people. They’re a form of escapism, they’re incredible storytelling devices, and they’re a means for socialising. In a world where those with physical disabilities can already feel excluded, SpecialEffect lets them be a part of this scene by developing specialist equipment or bettering the industry at large, with accessibility aids built into the software. The work they do is incredible!

So, if me doing a ‘little’ run, and your generosity, means a kid can finally join in and play Minecraft with their friends, or give them a moments reprieve in one of thousands of virtual worlds, then it’s well worth the sweat (of which there will be bucketloads)

Thank you!

You can find out more about SpecialEffect at www.specialeffect.org.uk