On 12 October I'll be running the Great Eastern Run half marathon to raise money for Kingsgate's Community Action projects: Peterborough Foodbank, Care Zone and Peterborough Food Pantry.

This half marathon is particularly poignant for me, it marks 10 years since I decided to start running and ran my first half marathon. Whilst it felt like a big achievement back then, this half marathon, a decade later feels like an even greater challenge.

After a challenging pregnancy, recovery and first year of motherhood, I struggled to have space for running. As I put on my running shoes at the start of this year, I felt like I was starting from scratch. I decided to sign up to the Great Eastern Run with Kingsgate Community Action to push myself in aid of a great cause.

Unfortunately, just as I was due to start training, I was wiped out with Glandular Fever and six bouts of tonsillitis over two months. But finally I'm in the clear and fast-tracking my training to achieve this goal, one I do not want to let go of as the work done through Foodbank, Care Zone & Food Pantry is so important.

I've had the privilege of volunteering with Foodbank during Covid and Food Pantry before having my daughter, as well as documenting the work of Care Zone through my previous work. Each of these projects has such an important role to play within our community, especially since the cost of living crisis has pushed up prices for everyday essentials. The reason why I have stuck at training for this race, despite health struggles, is to raise important funds for these projects.

Thank you for reading this story, and for providing food and furniture to those who need it through sponsoring me in this race.

You can find out more about the work of Kingsgate Community Action here: https://kingsgate.church/communityaction/