Dear friends and family,

on the 28th of April, my flatmate Martin, my friends Edna, Heba, Frederick and myself will be running the Stratford half marathon. We have been training very hard in the past weeks, racing innumerable laps around Port Meadow, and are hoping to run the 13miles (21km) in roughly 2:15h.

I would like to use this opportunity to raise some money for the Refugee Council. I have worked with this organisation while volunteering for the soas detainee support group during my undergraduate studies, and know that they do brilliant work. Their staff are extremely dedicated, helping asylum seekers and refugees, who are amongst the most vulnerable people in our societies, by providing legal, psychological, medical and other support. I believe it is our duty as citizens of some of the wealthiest countries in the world to help those so much less fortunate than us; people, who are fleeing poverty, conflict and discrimination - often only to find that the countries they are fleeing to are not willing or prepared to provide the security and support they need. The Refugee Council works extremely hard to change this. If you would like to find out more about why I think this issue is important, and about the work that the RC does, please see the following link: http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/policy_research/the_truth_about_asylum

Please help me achieve my challenge to raise 500,- GBP and give generously. Your support will be hugely appreciated. 

All the best,

Julia