Gulp! I've dusted off my trainers and I am going to run the 13.1 mile long London Royal Parks Half Marathon on 10th October for my local Age UK, in memory of my dear grandmother, June who passed away in 2019.

I hope you can support me with something extremely close to my heart. As we welcome the easing of lockdown, having had a taster of what isolation feels like, tens of thousands of older people in the UK remain isolated and lonely. This is their day to day reality. Unable to leave their homes and without the support of friends or family, many live in a state of devastating social and physical isolation and struggling to find reasons to keep getting up each day. 

This is where Age UK and their wonderful team of volunteers step in. Age UK H&F are a small charity looking after the 6th most densely populated areas of the UK with over 19,000 people aged 65+. The charity's funding has not increased despite the extreme demands of the pandemic, yet the organisations befriending and isolation services (which I am privileged to look after) have increased to 200% of the remit asked of us by the community. Many more people need urgent care and support. With the charity's help, together we can reach more of these people and give them something to look forward to each week, a  friendly face and someone to reignite their passion and zest for life. As part of my job, I am extremely privileged to visit the homes of over 113 clients I look after to provide them with befrienders who give friendship and compassion at a time when it's most needed.

I support older people who are paralysed, in care homes without friends or family, homeless, housebound and suffering from depression and anxiety or those who are living with conditions such as dementia which leaves them in a frightening state of permanent confusion. 

One gentleman I support said the other week, "I have not been out of my house in over a year but knowing Age UK H&F are there for me gives me hope. I wouldn't be around today if it wasn't for Emily and the befriender she matched me to. It's transformed my life and given me something to live for." Mr H (72)

£500 helps Age UK to provide companionship for a year to an isolated older person, so with your help, by reaching the £1,000 target, together we can provide friendship to two more people who have no one.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page and supporting me on my journey in memory of my dear grandmother June who was there for me when my mother passed away when I was a baby. This is for you and also the hundreds of older people, I have the privilege of directly supporting. Let's do them proud.

With love and thanks, 

Emily on behalf of the people your support will directly help.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.