'I was told I was going to die and now I'm running a half marathon'

“If I was going out, I’d have to take a bottle of wine and I would put it into three smaller bottles so I could hide them in a bag.”

28-year-old Holly Dyson’s battles with alcohol were so dire she consumed two litres of gin a day and was told she was going to die. But now, three years alcohol free, Holly is running the London Landmarks Half Marathon tomorrow (Sunday) for the charity Alcohol Change UK.

Before and after Holly became alcohol free | Family Handout/PA Wire

placeholder image — Before and after Holly became alcohol free | Family Handout/PA Wire

Holly battled alcohol dependency for six years in her 20s and felt unable to leave the house without taking a bottle of wine. Just hours before speaking to the Press Association, Holly was leading a walking group as part of her career as a support worker for Change Grow Live, where she uses her experience to help others.

Yet previously, after having a traumatic time at university, Holly did not drink any other liquid apart from alcohol for three years and was no stranger to starting her day with a pint of cider.

Before and after Holly Dyson became alcohol free | Family Handout/PA Wire

Holly, who lives near Southport, Lancashire, said : “I truly, wholeheartedly was going to die. I was told I was going to die. I believed it and I had no hope. But here I am, nearly three years later, working in addiction and running a half marathon. These are all things that I could only dream of and now I’m actually doing it.”

Holly’s dependency on alcohol escalated rapidly in her mid-20s and she turned from drinking prosecco with her family in the evenings to experiencing physical withdrawals if she went without a drink.

“If I was going out, I’d have to take a bottle of wine and I would put it into three smaller bottles so I could hide them in a bag and I was just living in fear every single day,” she sad. “I went to hospital numerous times, I had severe liver disease and then, in 2023, I went in again and I was really unwell this time. I’d been vomiting blood and all sorts, and they said to me there, you are going to die in six months if you carry on like this. But even that didn’t stop me. It upset me but I didn’t care. I’d kind of accepted the fact I was going to die because I can’t stop this.”

Holly Dyson, who was told she had six months left to live after consuming two litres of gin a day, is running a half marathon to raise money for an alcohol harm charity | Family Handout/PA Wire

Holly said negative stereotypes surrounding alcohol addiction prompted her to speak out. “I’m not your stereotypical alcoholic,” she said. “I was a young girl when I got trapped in that cycle and I think stereotypes can be a barrier to people seeking and getting help. Equally, I don’t think alcohol addiction is spoken about enough. I think there’s so much stigma and stereotypes attached to it and the stigma’s awful.”

Holly lost her fitness while dependent on alcohol as she would spend large amounts of time lying in bed and drinking and Sunday’s half marathon is a testament to her recovery. “When I was drinking, I did nothing. All I’d do is lie in bed and drink. So, when I got sober, getting my fitness back was really important and I’ve always, always loved running,” she said.

Holly said the half marathon was more than a physical challenge and is a way to give back, raise awareness, and show that recovery is possible.