Sober Butterfly Collective and Alcohol Change UK

Hi, I'm Lucy and on New Year's Day 2020 I removed alcohol from my life forever. I had had a difficult few years with a very stressful job, two young children and my husband having some serious health issues. I had come to rely on alcohol as a crutch - something to look forward to every night, to numb how I was feeling and to reward myself for surviving another day. However when I realised I couldn't go a day without a drink I knew something had to change. I eliminated my wine habit and found I had boundless energy so I took up weight training, swimming and cycling and started to actually enjoy the running I had previously done to punish myself for eating and drinking too much. Eventually I strung it all together and took up triathlon!

I've now changed career and am a business owner, a swimming teacher and cycling coach and a volunteer run leader and triathlon coach. I have made wonderful new friends via the Sober Butterfly Collective who are a voluntary organisation who support anyone who wants to socialise without alcohol to do so with like-minded, friendly people who just want to have fun without drinking.

I was lucky enough to get a place in the London Marathon via my running club, Bingley Harriers, and have decided to run it in butterfly wings to raise funds for the Sober Butterfly Collective and Alcohol Change UK, the wonderful charity behind Dry January. They do essential research and raise awareness among policymakers and the public of alcohol harm, and support recovery services across the country doing their vital work.

I'm hoping to raise at least £1000 for these two charities so if you can spare a few quid please do donate!