In Spring 2026, I'll be taking on the Brighton Marathon, not just a personal challenge but to raise vital funds for OCD Action, a charity that has supported me through some of the darkest moments of my life.

I live with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), but not the version you often hear about in passing jokes or throwaway comments. My diagnosis is a subtype called Pure O, where compulsions aren't always visible. That doesn't make them any less real. Those closest to me see the constant seeking of reassurance, the exhausting mental rituals and the way OCD shapes how I experience the world.

It's a condition that is isolating. When it flairs up, it can leave me stuck in my own head, making it difficult to work or socialise, basically just trying to manage through the day. When life gets hard, OCD flares up and makes everything seem so much heavier. Before I was diagnosed, I genuinely thought I was alone in this. I now know I'm not and that's largely thanks to OCD Action.

They've given me access to support groups and helped me begin to understand and manage my OCD. Their work changes lives and it's no exaggeration to say they've changed mine.

So I'm running for them. Every mile I train, every step on the day, it's all for this incredible charity and for anyone who's ever felt lost, scared or alone in their mental health journey.

If you're able to donate, however big or small, it would mean the world to me. Raise awareness, offer hope and support the amazing work OCD Action does.

Thank you for reading and for being part of this.

Suzy x