Dear Friends,

I'd like to help raise funds again for our local winter night shelter.

Last year many extremely kind people sponsored me for the Great South Run, and together we were able to cover all the food costs for the Teddington shelter for 6 months. I'd really love for us to team up to do the same again this Winter, and as that's an extra ask, I'm going to do an extra event. On September 28th I'll walk/jog the North Downs 50km, followed by the Great South Run once again on Sunday October 20th - just before the shelter opens. Please will you spur me on with sponsorship for this essential cause?

For two years St Mary's Church has been part of scheme offering a hearty meal and a warm hall to sleep in, for people experiencing homelessness in Richmond Borough, with the charity Glass Door.

The scheme runs during the coldest months from Nov to March, ensuring that every evening, there is somewhere warm and friendly to be for up to 25 people, who would otherwise struggle to find shelter and support. It’s volunteer run, and by all sorts of wonderful people, the guests are delightful and in genuine need.

The food for each night costs £60, for both dinner and breakfast - so with every tenner you donate, together we can feed 4 people 2 meals. St Mary's will run 25 sessions, so the target is £1,500.

Each £10 after that would buy an extra roll mat or go towards the amazing work Glass Door does in enabling people to establish more stable and positive lives - like the 80 guests who found work last year or the 188 who moved into housing.

If you want to, you can read a little more about my personal experience of last year‘s shelter here: Teddington 2018 article.

Thanks so very much for whatever you can give. In return I promise that I will walk up hills and down non stop for 12 hours on 28th September, then run the Great South Run in October and not walk that one little bit!

Anne xx