Yes, I've run this half marathon before. And yes, I've run for UNICEF before (October 2014). But the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Syria has got much worse since then. 8 million Syrian children urgently need humanitarian aid.

UNICEF is the largest children's charity in the world. They receive no funding from the UN, but rely entirely on voluntary contributions. They work with children, upholding their rights and health in over 190 countries, including the UK. But I believe that the Syrian crisis demands our special attention: it is the largest humanitarian crisis of our lifetime - in fact, since the Second World War. We've all seen the photos of refugee children from last summer. I believe that, as human beings, we have an obligation to try and do our bit, however large or small that bit is.

I'll give you an idea: just £1 could pay to vaccinate one child from 6 life-threatening diseases, including polio. No donation is too small or ineffective.

Thanks for reading this.

Luke

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