I’m running the Paris Marathon this April to raise money for BetKnowMore, a charity that supports people affected by gambling addiction — an issue that is misunderstood, hidden, devastating and life threatening.

Gambling addiction tears lives apart. It destroys mental health, relationships, finances, identity, and sense of self. It leads to intense shame, isolation, anxiety, depression and in tragic cases, suicide.

One of those cases is Ollie Long - a bright, funny, passionate young man who battled a gambling addiction for years. The impact on his mental health was overwhelming and a couple of years ago, Ollie tragically took his own life. His story is a heartbreaking reminder that gambling addiction is not a “bad habit” or a lack of willpower — it is a serious illness that costs lives. I’ve seen first-hand the impact this has had on the people around him - family, friends and everyone who cared for him. Gambling doesn’t just harm the person struggling; it destroys communities and leaves lasting pain in its wake.

This is deeply personal to me as I struggled with a gambling addiction for all of my adult life before entering recovery in 2024. During that time, gambling stripped away every pillar of a healthy life — my peace of mind, my relationships, my stability, and my sense of self-worth. I wasn’t living normally; I was surviving day to day under the weight of secrecy, fear, and despair.

BetKnowMore's peer support helped me feel understood, supported, and less isolated at a time when I desperately needed it. They help people in crisis - people who feel trapped, ashamed and hopeless, reminding them that recovery is possible.

By donating, you’re helping fund support for people who need it most. You’re helping someone find hope, connection and a way forward when they might feel there is none.

Thank you for any donation possible - every bit makes a difference.