Caring around the clock can be stressful, exhausting and extremely isolating and lonely. Every carer needs a vital break – and with your support, Crossroads Care can help even more local carers often in desperate need of support.

On Sunday 8th June, the Crossroads Care Running Team will be lacing up their trainers and taking on the Turks Head 10K in Twickenham – and they need your help to make a difference.

This isn’t just a race. It’s a celebration of community — with stalls, live music, and a BBQ — and an opportunity to give back to the unpaid carers who dedicate their lives to supporting their loved ones.

Crossroads Care provides vital regular home and community respite breaks and support to carers, allowing them to go to appointments and spend time with friends. Without these services, many carers face burnout and social isolation. That’s why the Crossroads 10K Team are running — to raise funds to keep these life-changing services going and help even more carers and the people they care for of all ages and disability.

Meet Our Inspiring Team!

Tristan who receives support from Crossroads Care is running in honour of his daughter, Imogen, 8, who has Canavan Disease, a rare genetic condition that causes progressive damage to nerve cells and loss of white matter in the brain. It means that Imogen is tube-fed and has to rely entirely on her parents to navigate the world.

Tristan says: ‘As the dad to a beautiful girl with a life-limiting and life-shortening disease, Crossroads have created a wonderful space for me to meet with other dads in similar situations. Their Dads Who Care group has helped me to deal with my worries, concerns and fears.

‘Now, I’m coming out of my 10K retirement to give back to this incredible charity that’s always been there for me.’

Sophie Crosswaite and her daughter Holly, who works at Crossroads as a peer and care support worker, are also running.

Sophie, who ran the 10K last year in aid of Crossroads, says: ‘I’m running again this year in aid of Crossroads in recognition of the fabulous support they provide for my sister Jane and my niece, Annabel who has a rare chromosomal disorder.

‘Caring for Annabel is demanding, and before Crossroads came into their lives, Jane rarely took any timeout.

‘Thanks to the charity, Jane can take breaks and recharge. I’m running to ensure that other carers can experience this same life-changing support.’

Twickenham resident John Gallagher, 71, who cares for his wife Monica living with severe Multiple Sclerosis, is running as a way of giving back to the charity which has been supporting his family for a year.

'We attend the wonderful Carers Cafe in Hampton Hill each week which is so enjoyable and supportive to us and to so many other carers too,' says John. 'I'm determined to complete the 10K as a way of saying thank you.'

Debbie Ramsay, a Crossroads trustee, her husband John and daughter Laura complete our team. They’re running to champion the charity’s mission of giving carers the support they need to keep going.

'I am unfailingly impressed by the support Crossroads provides to carers who are so often exhausted and on the edge of burnout,' says Debbie.

'The charity's well-trained team gives these carers respite so that they can take a break, knowing their loved-one is being well looked after. John and I feel privileged to run the Turks Head 10K for them.'

How You Can Help

Your donation can change lives. It can mean:

• A vital respite break for carers on the edge of burnout.

• A social meetup for isolated and lonely carers, bringing them together in a safe space with others in similar positions to themselves.

Donate today. And come along to cheer our team on at the Turks Head 10K on 8th June! Visit our stall to learn more about Crossroads and enjoy the day.

Together, we can make a difference.