Getting my social on…

This week has been all about spreading the word and getting some good ol’ social media coverage for my challenge. Plus I’ve discovered a perfectly acceptable de-alcoholised wine and slept better than I have in years – result!

First to social. The wonderfully supportive team at PAPYRUS featured me on Instagram as part of #CharityTuesday last week – thanks guys! It’s really good to share our story and connect with other people in a similar situation. We also received some fab running vests and t-shirts from the lovely Toni at PAPYRUS so look out for a couple of purple-clad runners* as David and I take to the streets of Hertfordshire in a bid to become fitter and also raise money by taking on some 5k and 10k runs later in the year.

Tottenham fans may have read about my challenge if they follow former Spurs player and England International Darren Anderton on Twitter, as he’s retweeted my JustGiving page to his 30,000 followers. Darren and I go way back and he’s given me even more motivation to succeed by suggesting I’ll never make it through a year without a drink. The cheek! To be fair, it’s not often he’s seen me without a drink in my hand so I understand him being dubious, although I reckon he might be pulling some weird reverse sports psychology crap and only telling me I won’t do it because he wants me to prove him wrong. Either way, I WILL prove him wrong!

Thanks to yet more very generous donations the fundraising total stands at £1340, and with my company – Anglo American – pledging an additional £1000, that means a combined total of £2340! The money will help PAPYRUS support young people at risk of suicide as well as their families, schools and communities. You can find out more about how PAPYRUS spends their money here. There really is no worse pain than finding out your child/stepchild didn’t feel they could carry on with life and ANYTHING we can do to prevent young suicide happening at the alarming rate it is in the UK, is crucial.

A bit of a short post this week as I’m full of cold and just want my bed, but I will say that I’m thrilled to have managed another week alcohol-free. And while I may have the odd 0% lager or glass of de-alcoholised wine (Torres Natureo Muscat, you’re welcome), I genuinely don’t miss alcohol. In fact, I feel calmer, more in control and less anxious than I have in a very long time. Lord knows how I’ll feel next week though! One day at a time…

*David runs, I flail.