I will be running the Virtual London Marathon on Sunday 4th October, completing the distance on local routes around the Tetbury area. I don’t usually ask for sponsorship for running as it’s something I enjoy but since it’s ten years since I last asked (when I did the marathon in real life) and as charities this year are facing funding shortfalls, I thought it was a good opportunity to raise money and awareness for a charity which I care about deeply.

Having visited the schools and village children who are supported by Goodwill, on two different occasions, I have seen first hand the important work that is done and the positive impact it has on families. The children and teenagers supported by Goodwill face extremely difficult lives and this has only been exacerbated by the global pandemic.  India is still reporting an alarming number of new cases every day with schools already closed for many months and unlikely to reopen before November. The charity is hoping to implement some interventions to support parents who are not coping with the care the children need at home, including sending teachers to the remote villages to deliver lessons in community spaces.  I hope you may consider helping to fund these interventions by sponsoring me. Perhaps you may even decide to do some running on Sunday yourself and show that we are still thinking about our friends overseas.