I am running the Liverpool Half Marathon in May to raise money for Think Pacific. This is my first half marathon and I am training from complete beginner’s level having never run before!

Think Pacific is a charity dedicated to helping Fijian children living below the poverty line and providing them with the tools they need to access a better future. Over a third of children in Fiji grow up in poverty, living on less than one dollar a day and with only 50% having access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation. The charity works to provide increased opportunities for children by replenishing school resources, providing teacher training, and helping to rebuild essential facilities.

Since their first visit to Fiji in 2009 they have enabled 1,000 children to receive early years’ education and built 4 kindergarten schools in 5 years. They have funded 48 building projects across 5 Islands, built 11 health clinics, a school dormitory and installed fresh water to the Wawa village. A total of $218,365.80 has been invested into local employment opportunities and the creation of the House Cup competition has provided more than 20,000 students with access to extra-curricular activities. They have delivered Sports Outreach workshops to 118 schools and have run volunteer led Sports camps in the capital, Suva for over 2000 children.

In the summer I am embarking on a month-long volunteer project to Fiji with Think Pacific in the hope that in my time there I can help increase standards in education, extracurricular activities and sports. I hope to provide the children with opportunities that we take for granted and allow them to develop academically but also outside the classroom through teamwork, creative activities and sports. Throughout the project I shall be fully immersing myself in the Fijian culture, living with a family for the duration of the trip and experiencing the Fijian culture first hand. The days will be filled with providing one-to-one tuition with the children and then leading the activities for the House Cup competition in the afternoons. Spending a month with these families and children will help them develop and allow us to continue to drive towards getting children out of poverty and giving them a chance for a better future.

I would be so grateful for any donations towards this great cause and to give me the motivation I need when training for the race!