"I am not a runner." I had genuinely never planned to run a partial marathon (and always thought people who did were nuts...) - but when I discovered the properly wonderful work done by Jamie's Farm, a small local charity which gives hugely disadvantaged inner-city kids an entirely different perspective on life, something bigger than me took over and I felt propelled to do this.  

I am incredibly grateful for your support of whatever size and it will certainly help me feel like "I CAN be a runner" (or maybe just "Now I HAVE to be a runner because all these people have sponsored me to be one!!").

Just a few weeks ago, in mid-January, I ran my first ever 10k distance, after a Christmas-sofa-induced haze of thinking it was time to pull my finger out and do a little more than my usual 5k Parkrun.

A chance comment on my subsequent Facebook post led to me doing something I genuinely never thought I would do - sign up for my "local", the Bath Half Marathon.  This is properly beyond my comfort zone - I simply do not run this far normally!  (And don't intend to after this event!)

But Jamie's Farm resonates strongly with me, combining a focus on family, education, children, second (or 3rd, 4th, 5th) chances, and being outdoors.  Visiting young people at risk of exclusion from school get to experience the natural beauty that I'm so lucky to have around me but not all do; to learn to live and work together; to take on stretch (farming) responsibilities; to go tech-free and sugar-free for a week; to receive 1-1 therapy, including  through a method dear to me - with horses; and ultimately to return to their life with a lot more going for them than they had before.

Here's a short video about the difference Jamie's Farm makes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjMp39SA-yA

Through a short stay residential and follow up programme Jamie's Farm aims to re-engage children with educational life, and enable them to fulfil their potential both in school and the wider social setting.  Kids who go to Jamie's Farm experience:

**8 Feb - Fundraising target update- thanks to the awesome and moving generosity of my wonderful friends, colleagues and family who have so far donated, I am already nearly at my original fundraising target of £500 only 3 days in to fundraising so have decided to stretch my goal to £1000 to raise for Jamie's Farm - THANK YOU in advance for helping me get there! **

...And target increased to £1250 on 23 Feb...thank you so much everyone!

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally 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.