On 1 May 2020, the world sadly lost Rebecca Hay. A caring, hilarious and lovable character, Becca was always there to brighten up my day with her silliness.

Losing one of my closest friends wasn't something I expected to deal with in my 20s, and it unleashed feelings I didn't realise I had. Put simply, I didn't manage - or even acknowledge - my grief. I hid it from my friends, family and colleagues, putting on a brave face while in public and at work. And then suddenly, almost 10 months after her untimely passing, I realised I needed to face up to the truth that I wouldn't see or hear from Becca again.

After months of unusual sleepless nights and anxiety, I turned to Calm and its incredible Night-time stories. One particular podcast - which takes the listener on a journey through the Norwegian Nordic Trainline - allowed me to sleep through the night for the first time in what felt like forever. It sounds silly, but that podcast was the catalyst for me to truly open up to my friends, family and colleagues, and has allowed me to fully grieve the loss of my close friend.

Now, thanks to the incredible generosity of my employer, WPR, and its Live Free Fund, I get to embark on my own adventure to Norway. For two weeks in December, I'll be travelling up and down the country, where I will experience the train journey that provided my first bit of peace since Becca's passing.

To celebrate my successful application to the fund, I have decided to test myself by running 100 miles in October. It won't be easy, but it equates to around 5km a day. Since accepting the challenge, I've already completed over 50 runs this year, including the Birmingham Half Marathon and Wolverhampton 10k, and it's reignited my love for running.

I'll be raising money for Winston's Wish, which helps teenagers, children and young adults with their grief. Sadly, when Becca was a teenager herself, she lost her twin brother, Warren, to a car accident. It's my hope that Becca would approve of such a fantastic cause, given her personal struggles with grief.

I'll be keeping you all updated on both Instagram and LinkedIn, and I would really appreciate your support.

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