On 14th September 2023,  I will complete an organised 12 mile Quest and treasure hunt, solving challenges along the way to open up the route.  I start this journey safe in the knowledge that I can currently walk 5 miles, so will be training over the coming months to build that up.

In partnership with my work charity partner Crisis, I am going to walk a day in the shoes of someone who is homeless. Crisis offers year-round education, employment, housing, support, advice and wellbeing services to its members, and wants to end homelessness for good.

The average distance walked each day by someone who is homeless is between 12 and 20 miles. Shockingly, it's estimated that over 227,000 families and individuals across the UK are facing the worst forms of homelessness, and almost 2 million households are living with poor conditions, such as mould, damp and overcrowding. The reasons vary, but mainly it’s the result of a combination of low incomes, the pressures of housing unaffordability - exacerbated by an undersupply of social rented housing in the places they’re most needed, and barriers to accessing the limited supply of decent, affordable homes in the private rented sector.

I want to support our employer in their aim to raise over £2million through fundraising which will:

• Call for 1 Million new social homes to be built by 2033
• Support Crisis to develop and launch a brand new ‘not-for-profit Lettings Agency for those on low incomes
• Support the expansion of the Crisis ‘Changing Lives’ grants programme to help members access education and employment or start their own business.

Thank you taking time to read my story, any donation you can make will be gratefully received and help turn people’s lives around.