In October of this year, sixteen volunteers from around the UK will travel to the Tsusalushaka region of South Africa to help build a creche for vulnerable children.

Included in the group is Simon Goodwin who has to raise a minimum of £3000 to participate in the project. I am personally funding half of the money and fundraising the other half.

In that part of South Africa, 57% of children under the age of 18 have experienced some form of violence - mostly sexual - in the last 12 months. In that area, parents work all day, but the children only attend nursery and pre-school until lunchtime, leaving them wandering the streets and vulnerable to horrific abuse in the afternoons. Incredibly, this abuse usually comes from someone they know. The creche we are helping to build will provide somewhere safe for the children to go until their parents can collect them. They also get fed, and for some of them it's the only hot meal they get each day.

The project is co-ordinated by international charity World Vision, who have already built 42 schools, 24 creches, and 24 drop-in centres in the Tsusalushaka province. They work closely with the local people as well as overseas volunteers to ensure the projects they fund are of lasting value to the African communities.

To raise money I am taking part in the 26.2 mile Shine Night Marathon. Half of the funds raised will go to Cancer Research who organise the event and the other half will go to fund the creche in South Africa.

I have personally had a big challenge after being diagnosed with M.E. I haven’t let this stop me though and am using it as my reason to push through, get myself in the best shape and health that I can and give the best I can to the people I will meet in South Africa.

I appreciate any support you can give and look forward to updating you on the progress of the trip which is not far away now!