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Up until 12th January 2000 lesbian, gay and bisexual people were banned from serving in the British Army, Royal Navy and RAF.

Before then, thousands of LGBT+ service personnel were removed or forced from service and abandoned, after serving with pride. In the years ahead it is Fighting With Pride’s aim to restore the military covenant and bring this community back into the military family.

The charity work with Veteran supporting organisations to build capacity for LGBT+ Veteran support, to recognise their service and help resolve the challenges they face in their lives beyond military service.

FWP is a ‘lived experience’ LGBT+ charity, supporting those seeking help and a resource for those who seek to help them.

I'm absolutely delighted that The Douglas Macmillan Hospice or Dougie Mac as they're affectionately known, have offered me a charity gold bond place for next years London Marathon - Sunday 21st April 2024. I'll be running all 26.2 miles of the London Marathon to fundraise for them.

Every year, Dougie Mac provides hospice services (palliative and end of life care) free of charge to adults, young adults and children living with life-limiting illnesses in Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire and the surrounding villages; also offering support for families and carers - This year, they have celebrated their 50th birthday! 

Dougie Mac simply couldn’t survive without fundraising and 75% of their funding comes from the kindness of their community and gernerous people like you :)

In December 2021, a student I taught passed away on his way to school.  Some other school staff and I ran a race - some a 10km, and some a half marathon - to raise money to support his family and a charity of their choice.  That was the longest run I'd ever done, and I felt incredibly emotional when it was over.

Watching snippets of the London marathon a few weeks ago, I thought to myself - why not just give it a go? This time last year, I wouldn't even have thought that. I didn't win a place in the ballot, but then I got to thinking about why I shouldn't try and raise money for a valid and worthwhile cause.  So here I am... 

The NSPCC do so much amazing work to support children in the UK and across the world.  I implore you to take a look at the support they offer

Having two parents who live separately and both having Alzheimer's Disease (technically one has mixed dementia) is a challenge, to say the least. For each of them, for what they've already gone through to be diagnosed, for relatives, for friends, for those, like me, who care for them. I see the different difficulties and heart breaking situations of the people that Hope4 really does make a huge difference to.

Making myself feel uncomfortable, challenge myself and do something that scares me (trying to be brave) and exciting too all whilst doing my best to raise money for an amazing and hugely impacting charity that is Hope4.

I really want to be able to make a difference to people and this is one way that I can do it, together with your help!

I'm undertaking the hardest challenge in my life so far, or should I say we (Rian my severely disabled son and I) have entered Manchester Marathon on the 14th of April. I will be pushing Rian in a specially made wheelchair in the marathon for 26.2m or 42.1 km.

I am running for SpecialEffect charity who enable people with severe physical disabilities to use technology for communication and leisure - playing video games when they otherwise wouldn't be able to - using whichever part(s)of their body that work best - chin, foot, finger, toe, eyes, knee or head control; we’ll find a way. It’s so important that everyone can join in as all too often disability leaves a person isolated.

SpecialEffect assess a person's needs and adapt technology to harness whatever controlled movement they have, and create bespoke gaming setups to enable them to play to the best of their abilities. Being included hugely benefits mental wellbeing and quality of life – bringing much needed independence, fun and escapism. 

A big thank you to anyone who has donated to any of these causes