Hello!

A year after hanging up my football boots, I'm running the Edinburgh Marathon for two charities close to my heart - Marie Curie and Big Hearts Community Trust.

Marie Curie supported my mum, Fay, throughout her illness and in her final days until she passed away. I was only 10 at the time but I will always remember how well the nurses looked after her and how special the nurses made me feel when I visited. They do amazing work which I'll always be grateful for so I'll be wearing a daffodil during the marathon and remembering the happier times with my mum. It weighs heavily on me that she didn't get the chance to do things like this so I'll be making the most of the experience for her/ my dad and brother who also lost her too soon.

Big Hearts is a charity I've had the pleasure of working with for 3 years as a trustee and I'll be wearing a Big Hearts t-shirt during the marathon. Big Hearts supports adults and children predominantly in the south west of Edinburgh. It uses the power of football and the 'Hearts' crest to create connections in the local community and access those who may not reach out for help elsewhere. Programmes are focused on mental health support, social connections and equal opportunities. Examples of just a few of the initiatives Big Hearts runs include:

- 'Welcome Through Football' is a truly phenomenal programme assisting young people from refugee, asylum seeker and migrant backgrounds. Recent years have seen young people displaced through the conflicts in Afghanistan and the Ukraine start a new life in Edinburgh and be supported by Big Hearts to live a safe and fulfilling life.

- 'Memories' which is based on memorabilia and stories from the past, tackles loneliness and adults at risk of or suffering from dementia. Dementia-trained volunteers are on hand to facilitate the activities and support participants according to their own needs and interests. Memories is a hub of activity as you can tell from the volume of the conversation and laughter which can be heard far from the shed when the memories project is on!

- 'The Changing Room' aims to promote men's positive mental health. In Scotland, men are one of the key-groups at risk of mental health issues. They are 2.5 times more likely than women to die by suicide each year, with the biggest group at risk being men in their 40s and early 50s. Big Hearts provide an open inclusive space at Tynecastle for men to connect and discuss their wellbeing. I was fortunate enough to speak to the group in 2022 and was blown away by the life line the Changing Room provides to some.

As I'm sure most footballers will appreciate, switching from sprinting around a rectangular lined grass/AstroTurf pitch to running for 26 miles is quite a challenge and not something I've taken on lightly! I have been been training for a number of months and after all the blood/sweat and many tears (!) I hope to complete the marathon on Sunday 26th May. Any donations you could spare would be very much appreciated.

JustGiving will ask you to pick one charity to donate to - I would love for donations to be split equally between Marie Curie and Big Hearts so if you see one lagging behind the other, please donate to that one to even up the amounts. My aim is to raise £250 for each charity. Thank you again for all your support.

Mariel x