It’s often only after a crisis, like the death of a parent, that people find Nacoa – the National Association for Children of Alcoholics – and say, “I wish I’d known about this charity before now.”

There’s still more to be done to help the 1 in 5 children affected by parental drinking in the UK know they’re not alone.

I was volunteering with Nacoa before joining the staff team last September, and working here has only strengthened my desire to make a difference for other children of alcoholics. That’s why I’m taking on a couple of fundraisers in the coming weeks…

The first is the Big Nacoa Walk on Saturday 3 May. Along with 50 other walkers, Ian and I will be stocking up on blister plasters and spare socks for a 22.5-mile trek through the Derbyshire Peak District (keeping our eyes peeled for adders!)

The second is the Bristol 10k on Sunday 11 May (lower risk of adders).

I’m mindful of having asked for donations before, so if you are able to donate, I - and the rest of the Nacoa team - would be incredibly grateful for your support.

By donating, you will help fund Nacoa’s free, confidential helpline and support services. Every pound raised makes a difference:

- £10 can pay for 5 information packs to be sent to schools.

- £20 pays for 10 helpline calls to be answered.

- £50 pays for an entire day of helpline calls

- £500 pays for a school support package for an entire year.

If you’d like to know more about why this cause means so much to me, you can read about my personal experience on the Nacoa website:

https://nacoa.org.uk/experiences/alcoholism-a-family-secret/

Thank you so much 💙