Some important news!

I will be running the Great North Run on Sunday 8th September 2024 to fundraise for Stamma!

Taking on the Great North Run has always been a dream of mine & to help raise some money for Stamma is even better, this will help raise awareness of stammering! It also ties in with my fitness goal for 2024: to become a healthier a fitter version of myself.

A bit about me:

🔴I am 26 years old

🔴I have a stammer

🔴Always dreamed of running the Great North Run. I have joined a running club for training (PS i have never ever ran a half marathon before- this should be fun!)

🔴I have a fitness goal: to become a healthier & fitter version of myself

🔴I own 2 mad cocker spaniels, Sparkle & Fudge

For those who do not know I have a stammer.

I’ve lived with my stammer for over 26 years now & there were times I asked myself, "why me? Why is there no cure? Why can’t I talk normally?"

(Sometimes, when I was younger, I used to wish I could have 1 day a year to just be "normal", and speak like everyone else)

But now I wouldn’t change the stammer I have learned to embrace & love it, taking it away by masking it or using courses etc would be wrong as it makes me even more unique! I have my own ways to get through a sentence - even if it does take a bit longer!

It’s really annoying when I know what I want or need to say but can’t get the words out, and phone calls are literally the pain of my life! And god help me if I ever get that make me a winner or cash register call 😬 (fingers crossed I can still speak 🤣)

It’s still frustrating having to write this in 2024, as stammering is still not talked about or discussed seriously, like it’s still a joke, the things that may come to your minds about stammering are probably:

1 The Kings Speech

2 Gareth Gates

3 The McGuire Course

4 Jim Trott (from the vicar of dibley saying no no no)

The stories I have, from being in school of being bullied, shopkeepers or others being rude or ignoring me, this has really knocked my confidence asking for help in public. To this very day, I find it hard asking for help! If Stamma had been available when I was younger I would have had more help & support.

All I ask is if you can share this post to your FB with family & friends to help spread the word Ben Thomas is running the Great North Run on Sunday 8th September 2024 to raise some money for Stamma!

Thanks for reading!

Ben 🙂

Help me raise funds for STAMMA - so that they can support and advocate for people who stammer. They provide support services via their helpline, webchat and email; support for families and teenagers, an employment service and now a new advocacy service. They also campaign to tackle the stigma surrounding stammering.

Stammering is simply how some people talk. Yet it is often met with ridicule and ignorance. Please support me and support STAMMA, so that anyone who talks differently can be accepted and take part in society on a level playing field.