** For updates on my progress please see my blog - click here! **

 

My nephew, Matty, was born in February 2009 with an undiagnosed neurological disorder, retinal dystrophy and central hypotonia – a condition which affects muscles throughout his body. On top of this, he also suffers from regular seizures and needs round-the-clock care.  Matty has been in and out of hospital all of his life but he continues to be so strong and brave in every challenge he faces.

 

Matty, now almost 5, attends Chestnut Tree House, a children's hospice in Sussex which cares for over 280 children and young adults with progressive life-limiting conditions.  The hospice offer support for the whole family including psychological and bereavement support, end of life and short break care and sibling support.

 

The hospice costs nearly £3 million per year to run and ridiculously less than 8p in every pound is funded by the government, so they rely heavily on the generosity, help and support of the people of Sussex and beyond.

Their goal is to provide the best quality of life for children, young people and their families, offering practical, social and spiritual support throughout each child's life, however short it may be.

 

Chestnut Tree House have been so fantastic towards Matty which is why I have chosen, hopefully with your help, to raise a bit of money for them, to indirectly help Matty and others in a similar position.

 

I thought long and hard before selecting my challenge - which is to have absolutely no alcohol for 1 whole year - after all, compared to Matty's ongoing battles it's hardly much of a hardship.  The problem is - and anyone who knows me will testify, I bloody love a drink!  It's something that is certainly part of my culture for near enough the past 20 years, be it at parties or social occasions, a quick beer after work, sharing a bottle of wine with Claire of an evening - and not to mention a day "getting on it" with the lads at the Albion on a Saturday!  It's safe to say, drinking is a big part of my social life - and I really enjoy it!

 

Which is exactly what is going to make this challenge very difficult, for me, personally to achieve.  There are so many unknowns and mini-challenges as well as the bigger, obvious ones (remember, it's a World Cup year!) but I am 100% convinced I can - and will - do this.  Of course, you can boost my focus and make my drink-free life just that little easier by supporting me via this Just Giving page.

 

In return for your generosity I will post updates on my blog detailing my progress and the various hurdles I will invariably face.

 

Thank you for reading this far and supporting me, Chestnut Tree House and most importantly my little nephew, Matty.  Cheers!