About

Christmas Day Marathon!! Thanks for visiting this page! A little about me - my name is Rees Bettell, and I’m a recovering alcoholic and addict. I struggled with substance misuse from the age of 16, and after countless failed attempts at moderation and abstinence, I reached an emotional, physical, and spiritual rock bottom during 2021-2022. On 30th October 2022, I took my last drink - and life has transformed since. Over the past three years, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to rebuild my life. I’ve reconnected with family and friends, and continue to focus on my emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing every day. This Christmas Day, I’ll be running a marathon around Bedford to raise money for a wonderful organisation called Drug and Alcohol Family Support (DAFS), who work in and around Bedford and Milton Keynes. DAFS was founded in 2018 by two women, Val and Lynn, who recognised a real gap in support for families affected by alcoholism and addiction. They are a small, volunteer-led organisation providing safe spaces and support groups that help families find connection, hope, meaning, and empowerment during incredibly difficult times. Any money raised will have a huge impact on their ability to reach more families, improve their services, and continue the vital work they do for those often overlooked by the healthcare system. As this isn’t an official race, I’ll be measuring the distance using my Garmin watch. To ensure validity, I’ll be running 26.5 miles (42.65 km). I’ve got a rough idea of my route and will share updates once confirmed. I plan to start between 7–8am on Christmas morning. I’d be incredibly grateful if you could help me reach my fundraising goal - every donation, no matter the size, will make a real difference. Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and for any support you can give. Rees.