My name is Mark and I am giving up alcohol for Stoptober, this means no cider, no gin, no wine and absolutely no beer. As a few people might be aware, this is a fairly epic challenge for me; I enjoy a nice pint, and rarely go for more than a few days without visiting a pub.

My girlfriend has suggested a fair few times that I try giving it all up for a week, to see how it went, but it wasn't until the last day of September, when after a heavy nights drinking, she managed to get me to agree to a giving it all up for a month. Now, having told a few people that I'm doing it, it seems like there's no way around it; I'm officially doing Stoptober...

The reason I have chosen Bliss as my charity is because Emma's nephew, Kyffin, was born at the end of March this year, 2 months premature. Bliss have provided excellent support to Kyffin and his family, and if I can't have a drink, I think it's only fair that they get a few quid for my efforts.

Please give generously, so I can't be tempted to give up less than a week in! :)