When I received an invite to join the Ealing "Queen of the Suburbs Challenge" (https://race-nation.co.uk/register/ehm-legacy-cic/ealing-queen-of-the-suburbs-challenge-2021) to run 13 parks in one month, I was really intrigued by the idea. 😍

The problem is... I run at least 3/4 parks every couple of days during my normal training, so I had to raise the stakes. Since this challenge "isn't about distance, it's about getting out and about locally" , I started to think about all the parks, gardens and woods we have in London, and I imagined I could try to visit a large number of them, in a short period of time. 🌲🌳🌴
Why not try... 100 parks (and gardens)?

Now, since I really enjoy running... where is the challenge? 🤔 Why in the process not try to raise money for a charity? On the Ealing Half Marathon website (the organisation is run by two amazing women, you can read more here: https://www.ealinghalfmarathon.com/ehm-legacy/) they listed amongst the other charities "A Mile In Her Shoes" (https://www.amileinhershoes.org.uk/) which help women affected by homelessness, setting up running fitness groups for them to access the positive mental/physical health and social benefits of group exercise and running. 

Women have been particularly hit by this COVID crisis 🦠: layoffs and unemployment, domestic violence, stress and mental health, all these (and many others) factors contribute to the risk of loneliness and in the worst cases even homelessness. These women are particularly vulnerable and having groups where they can socialise to get their confidence lifted and their self-esteem boosted is fundamental. 🏃🏾‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃🏽‍♀️

Whit that in mind, I've created a map 🗺 with all the parks I could find, with both big well-known and smaller less-known parks and garden, all at a running distance from where I live. You can view the map here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1ZSNmCyMGLICCiqNbQFgwRirKnXogP9ZB&ll=51.53635361669343%2C-0.1016129499999785&z=12 or you can see a picture in the page photo gallery.

So here's the challenge I've set myself: run 🏃‍♂️through as many parks (and gardens) as possible in the next 30 days. At the end of every week, for each big park I've run–eg. Hyde Park, Hampstead Heat, etc.–I'll donate £5, while for every small park or garden–eg. Wapping Gardens, Russel Square Gardens, etc.–I'll donate £1.

-----------------------------

How can you help me in this "endeavour"? 🌱 Well, that's easy: you can make a donation using this page (click the button "Give now") and/or you can this my little initiative through your socials channels, with friends, colleagues, whoever you think may help.

Thank you 🙏 ❤️

-----------------------------

If you want to see more photos and updates, you can follow this thread on Twitter, where I will keep posting: https://twitter.com/areaweb/status/1378270036893306882