I am running in memory of my Dad, Richard Atkinson.

I am so proud of my Dad for his work in helping others suffering from addiction during his time as Double Impact’s Fundraising Coordinator. Not only did he once run the Robin Hood Half Marathon in support of Double Impact, but he also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro! I have been inspired by his dedication and perseverance to helping others despite facing his own challenges and am proud to know he saved lives. I miss him so much.

I am grateful to Double Impact for all the help they gave to my Dad during difficult times.

I urge everyone to please donate to this important charity to help those suffering from addiction get the support they need to recover and rebuild their lives.

Who are Double Impact?

Double Impact Services was established in 1998 by a former addict to support people to successfully recover from drug and/or alcohol dependence. Recovering from dependence on drugs or alcohol is a long term process and often requires rebuilding a life from scratch.

Many people they support have lost their home, their health, their job, family, friends, confidence and hope. Stopping or reducing using or drinking is usually not the biggest issue - the real challenge for individuals lies in their sustaining this in the long term and repairing the devastating consequences of their substance use.That's where Double Impact comes in.

“Addiction affects people from every walk of life and the reasons behind it are complex - its roots often lie in traumatic childhood experiences. We passionately believe that with the right support at the right time, people can and do recover fully, restoring their health, hope, confidence and sense of purpose.

Double Impact understands how to help because over 65% of our staff have lived through the experience themselves - we believe this gives us a unique ability to empathise and inspire the people who need us.

We all know someone who is affected by addiction - whether themselves or someone they love. Help us to help them.”