Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

A very good friend of mine, Mark Jones, passed away earlier this year, leaving this world far too soon. We were friends for almost 20 years and I miss our chats and laughs over many a beer or two, at home and away. He was a devoted family man, a cherished friend and a hugely successful international dual code rugby player. The memories shared of Mark since his untimely passing reflect the love and respect he had earned from all who knew him. He was a legend both on and off the rugby pitch. One of Mark’s biggest struggles in life was dealing with his stammer, an affliction that had a profound effect on him throughout his life, as recorded in his book Fighting to Speak. In the last few years of his life Mark became an ambassador for the charity Empowering Voices, helping others who were also struggling to be heard.

As his friend, I wanted to raise money to remember him and to help continue his legacy with a charity that he felt so proud to be part of. As a result, I have decided to give up alcohol for the month of December, specifically choosing the festive period because it will be more challenging than any other month.

Stammering affects at least 1 percent of the population in the UK- that’s 600,000 individuals. While there’s no cure for stammering, there are effective ways to control it, which is how Empowering Voices helps so much.

I am hoping to raise at least £1000 for the charity to continue the amazing work they do.

You can help by donating any amount or sharing this fundraiser with friends and family.

Thank you so much in advance.