Since February this year, I've been spending my Sundays at Akwaaba, a volunteer-run social centre for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in London.

I've decided to run a half-marathon in October, and want to use the opportunity to try and raise funds for an organisation whose work I've personally witnessed to be incredibly valuable for the people it reaches.

We do all sorts of things – eat lunch together, play music, run storytelling workshops, fix bikes, teach English, offer casework support, and pretty much anything else people ask for and our volunteer base is able to provide. The aim is to reduce social isolation and build a community which offers practical and emotional support to vulnerable people who might otherwise feel excluded from society.

So the running part is really just an excuse to steer your attention towards how great the work Akwaaba do is, and ask for your support to help it grow.

Your donation would go towards covering travel expenses for migrants to attend the centre. Just a fiver would cover someone being able to attend for one more week – so we genuinely mean it when we say no donation is too small!

Here's some more info on Akwaaba: www.akwaaba.org.uk

And here's a picture of me last time I did a semi-long run (not even anywhere near a half marathon.) As you can see by how red I am, I am not a born runner. This is going to be interesting.