elop is an incredibly special charity – it provides low cost "pay what you can" therapy to LGBTQ+ people, meaning thousands can access safe, welcoming, affordable mental health care when they might otherwise not have been able to.

LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately affected by poor mental health. Discrimination, social isolation, fear, a history of persecution, and the trauma of not being able to live authentically has inflicted deep wounds on members of our community. So many friends of mine have been affected by anxiety or depression – and been supported by elop in their time of need.

As a small, specialist charity, run by and for the queer community, elop punches above its weight. But funding is tight and demand for elop's services is increasing due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the aftereffects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and rising incidences of homophobia and transphobia across the UK.

That's why, as part of elop's annual #exercise4elop challenge, I've pledged to cycle at least 280km during the month of February – I'll be sharing updates on this page as I get out on my bike.

Please donate what you can to sponsor me and support elop's vital, life-saving LGBTQ+ mental health services!