On Sunday 28th April, I will be tootling down to London to run/jog/limp 26.2 miles for ‘The Actors Children’s Trust’ (ACT).

I ran the London Marathon for the first time in 2018, it was amazingly awful. The last 6 miles in particular were brutal. When I finished, I nearly collapsed and swore “never again” . . . and now 9 months later . . . I’m signed up and doing it. Why then? I hear you ask. Well I shall try to explain whilst trying to persuade you to sponsor me . . .

Being an actor is tough at the best of times but when you are a parent and an actor - it becomes really tough. The industry doesn’t do enough to support actors that are parents (in my opinion). Additionally, you also have the emotional ramifications about being absent, feelings of guilt & selfishness, missing birthdays and other milestones or doing the goodnight story via FaceTime - but hey, that’s the choice of the parent and though it’s tough you almost have to write it off.

However this is only a snippet of the stress and pressure of being a parent/actor. Luckily a charity like ACT are around to try and alleviate this stress and pressure in many ways. ACT are a charity for actors run by actors and it supports professional actors who have children. They do many things ranging from - financial support, advice, drop ins, meetings & more. Meeting the needs of children whilst juggling last minute (or multiple) auditions, arranging sitters or additional nursery hours, sorting additional travel costs or just the general irregularity of our work - it all impacts significantly on your ability to meet the needs of your child and this is where ACT can help. Whether it’s helping with schools meals, university fees, trips, uniforms, clubs or supporting children’s with special educational needs to get the best help possible to supporting children of actors trying to enter the profession. There is so much they do and this can all be read online on their website (http://www.actorschildren.org). Essentially they do everything in their power to help actors stay in the profession whilst having children and families. 

Me personally, I am a Dad first and an Actor second. I will endeavour to be both for as long as I can be and if a time comes when I need help - I will ask ACT for help if I am getting to that point and I will do it with such gratitude. All I can pay them back with is my legs and my mental health so on Sunday 28th April 2019 - I will do that over 26.2 miles.

They aren’t a huge charity. There isn’t a mass of us running (less than double figures) so seriously - every penny helps. Anything you can donate will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. G. x