On 7^th November I am taking on a huge personal challenge: rowing the marathon distance of 42.2km on a Concept2 indoor rowing machine to raise vital funds for Hope and Homes for Children – a charity close to my heart. 

Every pound you donate will be matched by the St James's Place Charitable Foundation - so please give generously!

I’ve supported Hope and Homes for Children for nearly 20 years and have seen for myself the amazing work they are doing in Rwanda, Romania, Bosnia and beyond to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow up with the love and support of a family. 

It is unacceptable to me that in 2019 over 8 million children are still living in orphanages and that 80% of these children aren’t actually orphans at all – children are often abandoned to a life of misery by desperate parents who don’t have the means to look after them. But with the right support this can change. 

Orphanages don't protect children. They harm them. All children want and need is a loving family to grow up in. Hope and Homes for Children works with governments across the globe to transform child care systems from institution based (think the Romanian orphanages we all remember from our TV screens in the 90s) to family-based care. They work to ensure families are supported to stay together and, where this isn't possible, that children are looked after in foster families rather than being confined to loveless institutions.

Over the past 15 weeks I’ve endured a gruelling training regime with over 60 hours on the rowing machine, covering  over 1,000km (620+ miles) – but this is nothing compared to the suffering children trapped in orphanages around the world endure day in and day out. 

So please dig deep, support me in my Rowathon efforts, and help me transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable children.

Thank you.