Imagine a little girl, 7 years old finding her mummy staggering around in the garden, falling over and saying stuff that makes no sense. Neighbours are calling over the fence to the little girl to see if they can help. Her immediate response is to politely refuse their offer, explain that mummy has had the flu and isn’t feeling well before she somehow gets her indoors and persuades her to have a cup of tea.

The little girl, so embarrassed and ashamed, checks to see the neighbours are no longer outside before she goes and retrieves the clean washing from the clothes line and then starts to prepare dinner for the family before daddy gets home from work.

She is scared because there is nobody she feels safe to talk to about her mummy’s drinking. She wants someone to help but she is afraid somebody will take her and her brother away from mummy and daddy. It’s all a big secret and she can not share it with anyone. At 7 years old she MUST protect her family.

This little girl was me

I kept my family secret from most people until I was well into adulthood. NACOA is working hard to help children of alcoholics in so many ways.

I am about to walk 22.5 miles over many ridges in the Peak District with some amazing people to raise money and awareness for this charity. This will be an enormous challenge for me so please support me if you possibly can 🙏🏽

Nacoa (The National Association for Children of Alcoholics) is a Bristol based charity founded in 1990 to provide help and support for everyone affected by a parent’s drinking.

We believe that every child has the right to a happy childhood and to live a creative and meaningful life but when drink is the family secret they are more likely to experience family violence, neglect and other problems in their own homes.