By the time I run this half marathon in October 2018, it will be the 5th half marathon I will have run- but the first supporting WWF. 

I wanted to chose a charity close to my heart to raise money for. Looking at the things which I love, my family and animals kept coming to the forefront. My immediate family are blessed with good health and try and lead a healthy lifestyle (hence the running!) with myself as a vegetarian, and the rest of my family vastly reducing the amount of meat they eat. I am also very concerned about the planet we live on and how we affect it- trying to reduce my impact by doing things like trying to save energy, walking when we can, recycling etc. 

Upon looking at statistics, animal charities only get about 7% of money raised each year, with 62% going to human based charities such as medical charities/ hospitals/ religious or overseas charities. All fantastic causes of course but without our beautiful world, we as a human race are pretty much doomed! So, I decided on WWF.....

WWF is at the heart of global efforts to address the world’s most important environmental challenges: safeguarding the natural world, tackling climate change and enabling people to use only their fair share of natural resources. Together we can build a future where people and nature thrive.

My running journey started in 2011 when I wanted to get fit and lose some weight after a few years of not doing much when I had my children. I soon got “the bug” and enjoy pounding the pavements early morning a few times a week. I am really looking forward to running the Royal Parks Half marathon. Running in London seems to have a real buzz around it and I am going to enjoy the beautiful parks the route takes me through. To be able to raise a few pounds for a charity whilst I complete it will spur me on to do my best- I don’t promise to be much faster than a sloth, may waddle a bit like a penguin, and sometimes feel I have a behind to match that of a panda, but to know I am helping the animals I compare myself to, will hopefully make me as proud as a lion! 

Thank you for reading this far and for any generous donations, however small. Your support is much appreciated.

Find out more by visiting wwf.org.uk

#teampanda

Text AWWF76 and your amount (ie £5) to 70070