"An estimated 751,000 (19.3%) children aged 10 to 15 years were living in households with an adult who reported going through one or more of the aspects associated with mental ill-health, domestic abuse or substance misuse in the previous 12 months.” (https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/childhoodvulnerabilitytovictimisationinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2017toyearendingmarch2019)

On the 2nd and 3rd May 2021 I will be embarking on a walk covering some of the hardest parts of the South West Coast Path in Cornwall and will walk two solo marathons over two days (52.4 miles).  This will work out to be about 30 hours of walking.  My route can be seen on the map below and you can see more detail of this at the following link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1OlqbeJft9YApbv9PYDy-VAZkVzIQBLeE&usp=sharing).

Why? I have worked for the young person’s substance misuse service YZUP (We Are With You in Cornwall) for 10 years, firstly as a practitioner and latterly as Team Leader.  I still feel as passionately as I did on day one that every child and young person deserves to have every possible opportunity to thrive in this world and to achieve their full potential.  I believe that the service we offer young people affected by familial substance misuse gives this to children and young people who are often scared to seek support due to stigma and fear that they will be judged or treated differently as a result of sharing what is happening for them.  However we could do so much more if we had more resources.

The money raised will go to the Cornwall Young Person’s Service (YZUP) and we will use the money to increase the number of young people we can work with who have been affected by the substance misuse of someone within their family.  If I raise:

5K - would allow YZUP to offer support to an additional 13 young people in the year.

10K - would allow YZUP to offer support to an additional 26 young people in the year.

20K - would allow YZUP to offer support to an additional 52 young people in the year.

25K - would allow YZUP to offer support to an additional 64 young people in the year.

You can follow my progress via our social media pages - Facebook @YZUPCornwall and @WalkingMyOwnWay and Instagram @yzupcornwall

If you would like more information about why I am undertaking this challenge, please visit my blog https://yzupblog.wixsite.com/walkingmyownway

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