This weekend, I’ll be taking on the Sydney Marathon, with the lovely KD, in support of MYTIME Young Carers, for the cause that’s incredibly close to my heart.

It hasn’t been an easy road to get here, having faced more than my fair share of injuries and setbacks in training (ankle, calf, slipped disks!). But no matter how tough it gets, I’m determined to cross that finish line. Why? Because I know I’m running for something bigger than myself. I’m running for the thousands of young carers who give so much of themselves every day, and who deserve every opportunity to thrive. Any donations received will be spent on young carers getting to take part in a MYTIME Making Memories day, which give young carers the chance to take a break from their caring role, have some fun and learn new skills.

I’m also running for all of you, the lovely people who have already sponsored me and shown your belief in both me and MYTIME’s mission. Your support means the world, and I promise to give this marathon everything I’ve got. It is not going to be pretty, furthest I have run in training is 10 miles... so it's going to be slow, it's going to be tough and there will be walking... but it is happening!

Together, we can help level the playing field for young carers. Thank you so much for being part of this journey.

Why do young carers need support?

This is all in aid of my favourite charity MYTIME Young Carers, who support young carers across Dorset and the Isle of Wight and the country... just like Sarah...

Meet Sarah. Sarah’s mum has complex mental health issues and has to use a wheel chair to get around. Sarah has been caring for her mum since she was just 5 years old and looks after her younger brother, Sam.

Sarah does a lot to help her mum, but it’s not easy. Her mums mental health is up and down, and when it's down she cannot get out of bed for days. Sam needs a lot of support, he's only little, and Sarah does everything she can to make sure he is happy, fed, and protected from the scary moods which her mum can experience when she is not in a good place.

Sarah is exhausted and she is scared.

She is worried about her mum, she is worried about whether there will be enough money for food, whether they can keep the house warm, and why her mums health seems to be getting worse and worse.

She protects Sam as best she can and keeps smiling to make sure he doesn't know how worried she is.

Sarah is finding it so difficult to keep up with her schoolwork and she worries about her future and Sam's. She desperately wants the doctors to find a way to help her mum, but there doesn't seem to be anything she can do.

Most of all, Sarah feels alone, even though there are an estimated 1,000,000 young carers in the UK today.

MYTIME exists to level the playing field for young carers like Sarah, by providing them with the support, opportunities, and friendship that every child needs and deserves.