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Milan: Following the tragic death of George Floyd and the following events in America I felt it was only right to do something myself. I took part in #blackouttuesday on Instagram but realised that this alone would have limited impact and so I got thinking what else I could do. I asked my friend Matt if he would be keen to do a running challenge and here we are. The charity we have chosen is Runnymede Trust that challenges race inequality in Britain. They work towards a Britain where all citizens feel valued and enjoy equal opportunities through research, network building, leading debate and policy engagement. We believe that this charity is a great place to start fighting against systematic oppression and discrimination against race in the UK.  

Matt: Being mixed race myself has given me a unique insight into the recent tragedy and has made me think in different ways. It has made me think about how white privilege has played out in my life, being raised in a middle class household without too much struggle or oppression. Not having to worry about being stopped, searched and killed by police in the area I live in.  Being given a platform to create a life for myself that many black people in the uk and around the world will never experience as victims of years of systemic, institutional racism and discrimination against themselves and their families before them. I will continue to educate myself on how to be aware and engaged with my own white privilege.

But also about the times I have felt judged, discriminated against and made to feel different because of my skin colour. Times where people have driven past me walking, shouted "Nigger" out of their window and sped away laughing. Being the only one out of 10 of my white friends to be searched as I enter a nightclub. Being called names like big nose, monkey and the countless times I have been made to feel "not black enough" by uneducated people who assume I should sound or act in a certain way because I am black. These experiences upon reflection has made me realise I have a voice, I love that I am black and I need to try and help in as many ways as I can.

I respect the amount of white people trying to raise awareness, educating themselves and trying to understand how it feels to be black. Not hiding away from discomfort and their own part to play as many have done for too many years. Not turning a blind eye. I too shared my experience and blacked out my instagram for a day but it is not enough, and we are going to start by raising money for a charity who fights against race inequality in our own country. Physical challenges are an easy way for me to raise money and we will be running 10km every day for 10 days. 

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