I found the Turks Head 10K so gruelling last year that as I crossed the finish line, I swore I’d never do it again!

But when a place came up this year with the amazing local charity Crossroads Care Richmond, which supports carers and the people they care for, I couldn’t resist.

Why is this charity so important to me? Crossroads Care have been providing unbelievable practical and emotional support for my sister Jane and my 13-year-old niece Annabel for 4 years. Annabel has a rare chromosomal disorder Idic(15) which is characterised by developmental delay, autism and epilepsy. Looking after Annabel can often be demanding and exhausting and before Crossroads came into their lives, Jane very rarely took a break.

Even though I help out as much as I can, with three children and a full-time job, I can’t always be around, so I’m truly thankful that Crossroads Care are always there to support Jane who looks after Annabel singlehandedly.

The incredible Crossroads team are very experienced, knowledgeable — and most of all caring and understanding about the many challenges that Jane faces on a daily basis. They know just how to entertain Annabel which provides Jane with some much-needed respite care, and the charity also provides community respite groups such as the Carers’ Book Club which means that Jane has been able to make friends with other parent carers. Jane has also been able to benefit from the charity’s Mental Health and Well-being Support Programme for carers, and children with disability by taking part in yoga classes and having some therapeutic massage.

Crossroads really has made such an enormous difference to Jane and Annabel’s lives, so please if you can, donate to this wonderful charity to support other carers, especially those close to breaking point. It would mean the world to me and my sister, Jane.