Support Richard's run for NSPCC's work on Child Abuse

I am running the Brighton Marathon on 6 April - my first - at quite an advanced age! But I have been a regular runner since I started jogging in 1981. I particularly wanted to run for the NSPCC because alongside my other work I have worked as a psychotherapist in the NHS, voluntary sector and privately for more than 20 years. Much of that experience has been with adults who have suffered life changing trauma as children when, for many of them, services like NSPCC’s Childline did not exist. I spend so much of my time helping these adults repair their damaged lives, to recover a life worth living often against the odds.

You cannot do that work without it having a deep emotional impact being exposed to what they went through. Their stories are heartbreaking, so often of abuse, cruelty and neglect, and yet tell of such resilience and, in time, hope. Child abuse is so much more in the news these days and we realise what we are up against. I knew it was time for me to honour their bravery and the love I feel for them. But that is not enough. More action is needed. I wanted to give something back via NSPCC, a wonderful organisation that is always there for today’s children who feel unimaginable terror and hopelessness in their darkest moments. But don’t take my word for it. Let NSPCC speak for itself about just one strand of its work:

"£3 pays for our Speak out Stay safe programme to reach 1 primary school child, empowering them to speak out if they're worried about anything. In 2022/23 we reached over 1.2 million children in over 5,300 schools through our Speak out Stay safe programme."

Many of you know me personally through family, professional and friendship contacts. Therefore you know that I would not make this request for sponsorship lightly in these difficult economic times. I care about this very much (which I have had to remind myself of often at 6.30am in the dark when training for the run!). I will hold the above NSPCC quote in mind to help carry me to 42 km. I hope you share my concern and will want to join in by sponsoring me. Better still, do that but also have a day out in Brighton on Sunday 6 April to see me do it!

Thank you

Richard