As the New Year approaches and there are endless opportunities to go and have a drink with friends and family it seems almost impossible to escape the festive season without a significant hangover or 2, or 3….

For the last 2 years I have successfully done ‘Dry January’. It seemed like a good opportunity to have a rest and start the New Year with a detox after all that beer over Christmas. This year I have decided to step it up and embark on a much bigger challenge. One full year with no alcohol at all!

As someone who enjoys a regular session in the local pub to socialise and be merry, I realise it is a daunting prospect. What has really surprised me is peoples reaction, which is generally, “WHATTT!, A WHOLE YEAR, I COULDN’T” This got me thinking, maybe it is a bigger challenge than I first thought. So, with that in mind I have decided to do something positive and set up a JustGiving page to raise money for Ryedale & District Mencap, a fantastic charity which I have had some minor involvement in recently. I have seen first hand how they really help people locally with learning difficulties.

I want to prove it to myself and others that it can be done (I hope) but if I can create awareness of a good cause and raise a bit of money along the way, then that will make it all worth it. So, at the stroke of midnight 2018-2019 I will finish my last drink and begin the challenge. Don’t be surprised to see me in the pub, I am a big believer in a social at the local, but this year, it will be alcohol-free beer!

Any donation at all, no matter how small would be greatly appreciated.