Dearest Friends, 

On March 24th 2019,  I will be taking part in my first ever half marathon.  That will be 13.1 miles I've never run before.  I started training in December.  My knees hurt.  My back hurts.  Even my ankles hurt.  In hindsight, I should of probably started doing things like this before I turned 40!  It would be more than amazing if you could spur me on and support a very good cause at the same time.  

Gingerbread, which began in 1918, do an outstanding job at supporting single parent families, helping them to find a way through the toughest of times. Many of us know how demanding it is to be a parent & how challenging simply coping with the everyday can be. Thankfully most of us don't have to imagine how lonely it would be to navigate parenting & simply keep afloat emotionally and financially, whilst coping with bereavement or circumstances under which we may have no control.  You will likely know someone who does or who has done this, quite frankly, heroic job.

The London Landmarks Half Marathon takes a very special route through London, close to where I was born at St Thomas's hospital.  My mother had me there, on her own, almost 42 years ago and I am ever grateful for her unbelievable graft, tenacity & independent spirit as a solo parent.  An absolute inspiration!

This bone creaking experience is most definitely for my fabulous Ma and anyone out there coping with parenthood on their own, whatever their circumstances.  So please, please, please, if you can, do give something to this terrific cause.  Thank you so very much for your support.

 xxxx M xxxx

Gingerbread are the leading charity working for and with single parent families, supporting, advising and campaigning with single mums and dads to help them meet their families needs and achieve their goals. Nearly one in four families in the UK are now headed by a single parent, yet many single parent families continue to experience poverty, disadvantage and stigma. You can help them to achieve their vision of a society in which single parents are valued and treated fairly by supporting my fundraising for the London Landmarks Half Marathon today. Your donation will help single parents across the country to receive expert advice and practical support as well as making it possible for their voices to be heard through Gingerbreads campaigning work. Your support would really mean a lot to me, Gingerbread and the thousands of single parent families they support each and every year. Thank you.