During my trip to Cambodia last year I took some time out to volunteer at a school and orphanage project in Siem Reap, Cambodia. SOID (Supporting Orphans and Indigent People of Cambodia for Development Organisation http://www.soidngo.org/) has been running since 2006 and provides free English, Maths and ICT classes to children from the age of 3-18. Like most Cambodian children, these are too poor to attend a government school.

Every day up to 140 children travel to the school from the slums of the near by village, Veal. Some don't have a place to call home, some look after their ill parents or grandparents and some sleep underneath shacks. Parents and guardians are provided with rice and basic health checks as an incentive, so that they send their children to school instead of out to work or to beg.

It's only when I began to spend time practicing English with these kids that I began to understand just how resilient they are. They're forced to grow up far too quickly and go without so many basics that we all take for granted. Despite all of this they I was astonished to find they were bright-eyed, safe, well behaved, respectful and their eagerness to learn was really incredible.

SOID rely solely on donations and have faced a lot of up-hill battles in their 12 years of existence. They recently suffered during the torrential rain and floods in Cambodia, the school had to close and payments for repairs didn't come cheap. They have been forced to move the school due to local monks threatening them, as they wanted their land. Yet they still seem to overcome these obstacles to provide an incredible opportunity for these young Cambodian people.

I remember speaking to one 14 year old boy, I asked what his ultimate dream was and how likely it s to happen, he replied; "My dream is to be a tour guide or sell ice cream to tourists, I need to speak very good English to do this, if I achieve this I can provide for my brothers and sisters. It's very hard because it is easy to be in a gang or beg on the street, there isn't much opportunity but I will try so much."

His dream is to become a tour guide or sell ice cream. That's all he wants from his life and SOID is giving him the opportunity to do that. This boy spoke perfect English and he is a credit to SOID organisation.

I'll be running the Manchester Half Marathon on 20th May to raise money for SOID so that they can carry on doing this great work and give these kids the opportunity that many of us take for granted, to survive. This charity means a lot to me, I am very passionate and will do all I can to help them. Any sponsorship you're able to make will be hugely appreciated.

We can dramatically change lives and create opportunity.

Thanks a lot for your support!

Adam Faithi!