Surprise!!!

After 2 years of not writing here is my welcome back blog!!! Ok, before you get too excited, grab a cuppa settle in and I will give you the craic! (Have you actually noticed how Cumbrian I am becoming?)

So obviously if you are sat there thinking that this blog is going to give you all the breaking news of contracts, my opinions on what’s going on and all the Sellafield inside gossip then unfortunately you are going to be hugely disappointed, and if I was you I wouldn’t even bother continuing to read as this isn’t a “business blog” this blog is going to be more like my “it could only happen to me” section and is a “personal blog”. If you have read my blogs before you will absolutely know there is a reason for me doing this blog and it is going to be about something, so here it is:

As you will know I struggle to say no, especially to people who I love. So when Rachel Holliday of Calderwood House suggested that this year I take on the Great North Run to raise money for Calderwood House Homeless Hostel in Egremont, instead of saying absolutely not, there is nothing I hate more than running and I would rather stick needles in my eyes – I said “Yes of Course.” I mean really why did I say that??? Whilst I like to weight train, although to be honest this year has seen a huge change in my personal life and I haven’t really seen the inside of a gym for at least 4 months, running has always been my nemesis. I absolutely hate it, I am rubbish at it, it makes me puke and I look dreadful when I run. Seriously you see all these amazing looking girls out running who look perfect, can breathe without panting, aren’t covered in snot and spit and I just don’t understand how they do it. I definitely look more like the dog in the picture below than the girl.

Anyway I digress; the point of the blog is going to be to share my running story with you on the run up (excuse the pun) to the Great North Run. I know how many of you enjoy reading about my pain and suffering and that it brings much joy. I will of course be putting a link to my fundraising page, after all I am doing this to help the homeless and I can only do that with your sponsorship. For those of you who don’t know Calderwood House is an innovative solution to homelessness and unemployment in West Cumbria, which provides support around the clock for those in need of accommodation, prioritising ex-military personnel. Calderwood House is an abstinent based project, which means drugs and alcohol are not allowed. I have been involved in Calderwood House since meeting Rachel just after it opened and served on the Board prior to joining Sellafield. I was and continue to be deeply touched by my experience with Calderwood House. I think many of us have a preconceived idea of homelessness and its causes. Putting it down to things like alcohol and drug abuse, but for many these couldn’t be further from the truth with homelessness sometimes becoming the cause of that addiction and for many it is down to mental health and changes in personal circumstances. The latest 2018 stats show that 35% of British families are 1 pay check from homelessness whilst 43% are 2 pay checks away. Many of us live hand to mouth without having had the opportunity to save or maybe ploughing any savings into deposits on houses, meaning one turn of bad luck such as redundancy or poor health can easily spiral into homelessness. Never forget how fortunate we are and never look down on someone who needs help. – One day that someone could be you!

So I hope you are going to enjoy my series of blogs throughout the coming months and I apologise in advance for what will probably, at times, be some colourful language and passionate rants. Please remember this is a personal blog for fun, and to hopefully raise awareness and money for Calderwood House Homeless Hostel.

Until next time…..

https://www.goldengiving.com/fundraising/emma-jayne-gooch-gnr-2019