I did it! My time was 1 hour 10 minutes, but that included a 10 minute queue for the loo at 7.5k, so splitting the difference, that's about 1hr 5 minutes...?  Thanks so much to everyone who sponsored me! And if you haven't yet, it's not too late!

I am raising money for a charity helpline called Get Connected, that I also volunteer for. Get Connected has been described as "the google of helplines." What we do is listen to the problem, provide emotional support, and then look for relevant services that may be able to help, connecting the young person directly to the service where appropriate (and free of charge). The idea is that there are a lot of sources of help out there, but people don't necessarily know about them, and the internet alone is not enough to ensure people find the right or most appropriate information.

People call in with all kinds of issues, from self-harming, to emotional and family problems, to addiction, eating disorders and homelessness, you name it. We have several sources of information that we carefully consult (having been very well trained) while talking to the young person about the problem they are experiencing. I could provide you with lots of examples, but suffice to say, I was a bit of a mixed up teenager myself and I got connected with some useful services, so I am glad to be able to do the same for other young people going through a difficult and confusing time in their lives.

But enough from me. Check out the silly photos: me resting, mentally preparing to run, and drinking hot chocolate in Paris (a far preferable activity).

So please dig deep and donate now!!

Thanks so much for your support.

Elaine x

PS:  Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.