A former heavy drinker from near Southport is approaching three years sober and will run the London Landmarks Half Marathon to raise funds and awareness
Holly Dyson, a 28-year-old from near Southport in Merseyside, has turned a life-threatening battle with alcohol into a public act of recovery. Once consuming two litres of gin a day, she was told by medical staff that she had six months to live if she continued.
Now approaching three years sober, Holly is preparing to run the London Landmarks Half Marathon to raise money for Alcohol Change UK, an alcohol harm charity focused on preventing and treating alcohol-related damage. The run is both a personal milestone and a public statement that recovery can be possible even after extreme dependence.
Before this turnaround, Holly’s relationship with alcohol dominated daily life and shaped her choices for years. After a traumatic time at university she described a stretch during which she consumed nothing but alcohol for three years and frequently began her day with a pint of cider.
Her downward spiral lasted about six years in her twenties, evolving from occasional prosecco at family events to a state where she could not leave the house without carrying a bottle of wine. That concealment and fear were hallmarks of her dependence and ultimately pushed her toward medical crisis.
From daily drinking to a dire prognosis
Holly’s drinking accelerated quickly in her mid-20s, and the behaviour became physically and mentally consuming. She described having to decant bottles into smaller containers so she could hide them on outings and spoke of experiencing acute withdrawals when she tried to stop. Repeated hospital visits followed, where clinicians diagnosed severe liver disease and other complications. In 2026 she was admitted seriously ill, having vomited blood, and was explicitly warned that continuing on the same path would likely kill her within six months. That prognosis, she says, felt like both a verdict and—initially—a final acceptance of her fate.
Running, recovery and advocacy
Turning away from that acceptance required small, steady actions and a focus on rebuilding health. Holly credits rediscovering physical activity as a crucial component: she had always enjoyed running, but addiction left her spending long hours in bed drinking and depleted her fitness. Training for a half marathon has become a tangible way to reclaim strength and measure change. Beyond the physical challenge, the event serves as a platform to raise funds for Alcohol Change UK and to show others that recovery can include reclaiming hobbies, careers and community roles.
Challenging stereotypes
Part of Holly’s motivation is to confront the stigma that surrounds alcohol problems. She emphasises that she is not a “stereotypical alcoholic” and warns that that stereotype can prevent people from seeking help. By speaking openly about starting drinking in her teens, the transition to daily heavy drinking, and the resulting health crises, she hopes to remove barriers and encourage early support. The public nature of running a city race is a deliberate choice: visible acts of recovery can reshape perceptions and make it easier for others to reach out.
Turning experience into support
Today Holly works as a support worker for Change Grow Live, using her lived experience to help people facing similar struggles. Her professional role includes leading community activities such as a walking group, an example of how small social supports and structure can aid recovery. Drawing on the same resilience that enabled her to stop drinking, she now helps others navigate treatment options and practical steps toward stability. That career shift underlines the potential for people in recovery to become powerful advocates and practitioners in the addiction sector.
For Holly, the half marathon is more than a race. It is a sign of regained health, a fundraiser for an organisation tackling alcohol harm, and a message to anyone trapped in addiction: change is possible. To support Holly and the Alcohol Change UK team, donations can be made via her JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/alcoholchangeuklandmarkshalf2026. Her story links personal recovery, public advocacy and community support into a single, determined stride toward a different future.
