Incredibly, I’ve signed up to run the 2025 Hackney Half marathon. As someone who can’t run a bath let alone 20km you’d be forgiven for asking why on earth I’m putting myself through this… 

The answer is a simple one. I’m hoping to raise funds for a cause close to my heart. Set up over 50 years ago by first generation Indian migrants to the UK, Kerala Christian Fellowship (KCF) was born from a spirit of the founding members acknowledging the relatively fortunate position they were in, being able to live and work in the UK, compared to members of their home communities back in Kerala. This initially resulted in informal fundraising in the early years, with supporters often giving from a place of difficulty themselves, before the organisation officially became a UK registered charity in 1989.  

While the overall economic situation has generally improved in Kerala over the last 30+ years, the need is still great for a number of communities in the region. With regular work often being hard to find, it’s not uncommon for families to struggle month to month with basic living costs let alone school fees for their children. 

Knowing that education is a key pathway out of poverty, KCF has focused on providing education grants to those from a lower-income background, seeking to remove the financial barrier for educational success. KCF has focused primarily on supporting nursing degrees, as it’s a qualification which considerably increases the chance of securing a steady income.

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