Hi everyone!

On 8 October, we'll be running the Oxford Half Marathon together to raise money for the Gatehouse, a local charity doing amazing work, where Edouard has been volunteering since we moved to Oxford.

The Gatehouse is a drop-in cafe located near the centre of Oxford. It provides a calm, safe refuge for people who are homeless or vulnerably housed, by offering tea, coffee, sandwiches, fresh fruit, cake, and home-made soup during the winter months, as well as other group activities during the week (art, literacy/reading, computers/IT...).

As in many other places in the UK, budget cuts to local authorities have led to decreased funding for social services in Oxford over the last few years. Two of the biggest shelters in the county are set to be "decommissioned" in 2018, whilst the number of people sleeping in the streets of Oxford keeps increasing. More than ever, homeless and vulnerable citizens need our help!

At the Gatehouse, this comes in the form of a friendly, accepting atmosphere, and all the sandwiches, tea and sympathy volunteers can supply. The Gatehouse accepts people just as they are, and its doors are open to everyone. We work with the help of dozens of volunteers giving their precious personal time in many ways, and financial donations from people like you! We'll be forever thankful if you can contribute to this fundraising, even with a small donation!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates on our intense training under the lovely British rain! And we'll see you on the finish line! :)

Chloé and Edouard

The Gatehouse: http://oxfordgatehouse.org
Oxford Mail article on recent funding cuts: http://bit.ly/2vhN6CC