Unfortunately in Scotland, 1 in 5 children live in poverty (that's 220,000 children) and in some parts, 1 in 2 children are living in poverty.  This can mean going hungry, not having a bed to sleep in, and not having warm clothes or bedding to keep the cold out. This happens to children whose parents don't work, as well as children with parents who do work and it's shocking that this still goes on in one of the richest countries in the world.

A number of charities in Scotland have been working hard to help these children, and the STV Appeal supports a number of these initiatives. You can follow this link to see what projects they have supported in your local area: http://campaigns.stv.tv/stv-appeal/why-were-doing-it/stv-appeal-in-your-area/

Last year I cycled 550 miles across Scotland (500 alone) to raise awareness and funds for the STV Appeal, and many of you lovely people helped to raise £1555 for the appeal.  To raise awareness and funds for child poverty this year, I will be running and cycling (with friends) for the STV Appeal:

• At the end of May, I will be running the Edinburgh Marathon (I started running for the first time in over 10 years in December)
• In July, me, Stephen Harkin and Andy Davie will cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats over 9 days which is an average of around 110 miles / 7-8 hours continuous cycling a day (40 miles more a day than last year's cycle).
• I'll then be cycling from Glasgow to Edinburgh in September as part of Pedal for Scotland
• I will also have copious ice baths...

All in all, that's 1007 miles cycling, 26 miles and 385 yards of continuous running (not to mention the training), and a lot of freezing baths!

We're aiming to raise at least as much as raised last year for the STV Appeal (which for you is a small price to pay to make me suffer again), so any donation would be appreciated. Every penny raised goes straight to good initiatives to support children in poverty, and to help bring them out of it.

If you would prefer to donate by text instead, you can text:

• STVA60
  
• With the amount: e.g. £1 (or whatever amount you want to donate)
  
• to 70070
  

Please remember that there are some many people in our country living in poverty, and if you can, help, whether it be through voting, volunteering, raising awareness, money, or any other way. 

Many thanks,

Chris

To see the routes, distances and elevation, please follow the links below:

• Day 1. Land's End to Princetown: http://www.strava.com/routes/580848
• Day 2. Princetown to Bristol: http://www.strava.com/routes/580957
• Day 3. Bristol to Shrewsbury: http://www.strava.com/routes/581018
• Day 4. Shrewsbury to Slaidburn: http://www.strava.com/routes/581107
• Day 5. Slaidburn to Carlisle: http://www.strava.com/routes/581171
• Day 6. Carlisle to Balloch: http://www.strava.com/routes/581251
• Day 7. Balloch to South Laggan: http://www.strava.com/routes/581285
• Day 8. South Laggan to Crask Inn: http://www.strava.com/routes/581323
• Day 9. Crask Inn to John O'Groats: http://www.strava.com/routes/581330

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