Thank you so much for visiting my page!

This October, I’m taking on the Bournemouth Half Marathon. It'll be my first ever 'proper' paid-for race. I’ve run a marathon distance, but that was on my own terms, and with plenty of distractions (bakeries) along the way. So the real goal of the race this time is to test whether Sum Sze can overcome anything without the promise of food - SIKE, it's to raise awareness for and support a charity doing incredibly humble, vital, and human-focused work in Bournemouth.

I wanted to support something local that works directly on the ground. I used to work for a larger multinational charity and advocacy organisation, and it is all too easy for small, local non-profits to get overlooked, even when they are keeping communities above water. Realistically speaking, the small amount of money I can raise as a single person is probably going to have more impact for Home-Start Wessex than it will for a bigger outfit.

Why Home-Start Wessex matters

They are a local community network of volunteers who visit families right in their own homes. They offer compassionate, confidential, one-to-one support to parents who are struggling with isolation, bereavement, poor mental health, post-natal depression, or financial hardship.

They focus heavily on families with children under five, helping parents find their feet during those crucial early years. Last year alone, they supported over 520 local families in crisis, providing a lifeline when things felt overwhelming. It meant they helped 980 children.

Where your money goes

Because Home-Start Wessex is an independent local charity, every single donation directly funds:

- Training local volunteers to provide weekly, in-home emotional and practical support.

- Specialist support groups for isolated parents or families navigating disability.

- Essential, immediate resources for local families trying to get back on their feet.

I am covering all the costs of my race entry myself, so absolutely 100% of whatever you can spare will go straight to the frontline of family care in the Wessex area.

Transparency

And look at their wonderful Annual Review! https://homestartwessex.org.uk/news/annual-review/ (As a compliance person this document really impresses me)

Every pound or penny will give me a massive boost while trying to lope across the seafront cliffs, and the piers in Bournemouth. More importantly, it will make a tangible, direct difference to a parent and child who need a helping hand right now.

Thank you so much for your support, your generosity, and for helping me back this brilliant local cause!