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From the age of five, I wanted to be a writer. Encouraged by my first teacher, I wrote stories about a girl called Jane, which all ended, rivetingly: ‘And then Jane was tired, so she went to bed.’

Teachers continued to spur me on. I wrote a novel in my late teens, then...

My 50 Challenges started when I realised how quickly the last 10 years had gone, and how much my life had changed in that decade.

When I set up 50 Challenges, I had to decide whether to talk about my mental health issues. I decided they were fundamental to the inspiration behind the idea.

You do our best: don't smoke, barely drink, run regularly, eat healthily, and then life throws you a curveball. 50 Challenges will define my next decade.

My challenge is to walk 10,000 steps a day for a year. Why so low-key? It's the single lifestyle change I can make for 50 Challenges to have the biggest impact.

I have resolved to learn a new card game a month for a year for 50 Challenges; something I can do with my father (and others) as he recuperates.

I have always loved books. Life has a habit of getting in the way and sometimes I'm too exhausted to open a book for my 50 Challenges.

Running a marathon may not be everyone’s idea to celebrate a milestone, but when I came up with 50 Challenges, it seemed the obvious way to mark my half century and launch a new movement.

Fund raising is usually motivated by personal inspiration. One of my 50 Challenges, to raise £50,000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society is no different.

Running is my sanity and my strength. It has got me through some tough times. When I came up with 50 Challenges, there seemed only one way to launch: with a run