[UPDATE] Marathon all finished now, it went well! Strava details are on my Facebook. Will keep this fundraising page open a few days longer then once the funds are confirmed in Lighthouse's account I'll post proof of that on Facebook as well. Massive thank you to everyone for all the sponsorships and support.

[UPDATE] The Stratford-upon-Avon marathon event is obviously cancelled due to coronavirus. I will still be running this marathon on the same date (tomorrow!) but I'll be doing it alone in Canterbury, making sure to adhere to social distancing - and I will upload the strava recording afterward as proof. I'm overwhelmed with the response and really grateful to everybody who helped us reach the fundraising target of 600 pounds, thank you everyone!

This is my first ever marathon. I will be running the Shakespeare Marathon on the 26th April 2020 in Stratford-upon-Avon. I am doing this to raise money for Lighthouse Relief.

I have never run a marathon before. Growing up I was not physically fit, and so I have at times found training for this 'challenge' very difficult. However, I am kept motivated by two facts. First, is that in reality this 'challenge' pales in comparison to the long, arduous, dangerous journeys that are made by people fleeing war and persecution. Second is that I have been lucky enough to spend time with Lighthouse in Lesvos so I know first hand that any money donated to this cause will be going directly to those who are most in need of support. Lighthouse operates as a charity and as such, relies on donations from people like you, to allow it to keep operating the vital assistance provided to vulnerable people.

The money you help raise, will help provide physical safety for refugees arriving into Lesvos and to vulnerable groups living in Ritsona - arrival into Europe doesn't mean safety, refugee camps in Greece are unfortunately stretched for resources, and are dangerous and inhumane places to live [3]

Thank you for taking the time to visit the page. The European refugee crisis covered the news headlines in 2015, including the particularly poignant image of Alan Kurdi, the 3 year old Syrian child who sadly lost his life. His body washed up on the shores of Kos, Greece prompting international outcry.

This same refugee crisis is still going on today. People are still arriving in large numbers, the picture below is from the most recent Summer. Making a crossing in this way is a last-resort option for people who have been fleeing persecution. It is only by chance that some of us are not born into similar situations, this is something we are grateful for, and also offer our support to those who are not as fortunate.

Support and assistance comes from many NGOs and charities. One such charity doing amazing work is Lighthouse Relief. This charity operates on the north shore of Lesvos in the Aegean sea. It is easy to think of this part of Greece as a sunny holiday location. However the reality is at times very different. The winters are very harsh, the crossing, although short, can be extremely dangerous. Boats are navigated by inexperienced passengers, the boats are cheap and very overcrowded. The people are often very desperate, including unaccompanied minors, pregnant women, parents with babies etc. Parts of the northern shore of Lesvos are very dangerous for disembarking.

You have the power to help reduce the suffering experienced by these people by supporting this campaign on behalf of Lighthouse Relief.

In 2019, the death toll in this region was 71. So far this year, 63 people have already died trying to find safety for themselves and their families. [1]

On arrival in Greece these people face further struggles trying to register with the UNHCR in Moria, Lesvos. This camp was designed for 2,840 people, and in recent times the refugee population has been as high as 19,000 [2] Conditions here are overcrowded, un-sanitary, hostile and increasingly long-term.

Although an extremely sad story, there is plenty of good that is being done. The local population have often been extremely helpful and generous, the UNHCR is present but of-course they are stretched for resources. To provide support in specific areas, a large number of NGOs are present on the Greek islands with various areas of specialisation. These NGOs are filled with volunteers from all over the world, and without the financial assistance of people like you, their work would not be able to continue.

Lighthouse Relief also operates in mainland Greece in Ritsona camp, offering vital psychosocial support to vulnerable people, they operate a Youth Engagement Service and a Child Friendly Space, as well as other projects for the most vulnerable groups; in an effort to try and mitigate the intense psychological impacts that their journeys have had on them.

There are lots of worthy charitable causes in the world and lots of people asking for charitable sponsorship. I'm sure you've given money to charity before and will do again. In this case, I ask you to please give what you are able, no mater the amount. Anything you give will be of great significance when it is spent on helping those vulnerable groups who have had to leave behind the place they had called 'home' and are no living in desperate and un-safe conditions.

Thank you for reading. I've only just launched this page so over the course of time will continue updating here and making posts about the refugee situation in Greece, and some training updates.

100% of all funds raised will be donated to Lighthouse Relief. None of the costs are for any of my entry free, personal expenses etc. Pictures are taken from Lighthouse's public Facebook page.

Some useful links for more information on the refugee crisis:

https://www.lighthouserelief.org/ourstory

https://mare-liberum.org/en/news (News from an NGO that have a ship in the Aegean, who focus on research and monitoring of human rights abuses, they have a good bank of information on the refugee crisis)

https://aegeanboatreport.com/ (Daily statistics and detailed reports on numbers of arrivals in the Aegean, and also some updates on the political situation)

https://finnsandsrobinson.myportfolio.com/the-north-shore-lesvos-1 (Story and photographic portfolio describing the operating procedures on the north shore of Lesvos, by Finn Sands Robinson, who I was lucky enough to work with in 2019 when he was operations co-ordinator for Refugee Rescue)

References:

[1] https://missingmigrants.iom.int/region/mediterranean

[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-51204084

[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/world/europe/migrants-greece-aegean-islands.html