Hi there,

I'm Tabbie, I work for Pay.UK, and in July I'll be running the Asics London 10K to raise money for First Love Foundation, alongside my colleagues.

Now, 10K for many might not seem like a huge amount (I'm looking at all those marathon runners out there), but for those of you who know me, you know I don't run... or gym, or play team sport, or actually exercise at all. So, when I was told about this 10K run, naturally I jumped at the chance... Yes it doesn't exactly make sense, but then you have a think about the work that First Love Foundation do, and it seems like the absolute least I can do.

First Love Foundation is a charity that does incredible work to tackle poverty in Tower Hamlets, where our office is based. They not only provide food for families who are struggling to feed themselves, but also have an inspiring model to consistently tackle the root cause of poverty where they can. They give in-person, rapid support to those in crisis in many ways, for example, by fighting wrongful evictions, helping victims of domestic abuse and violence, and reclaiming benefits for those entitled to them. Tower Hamlets has the highest rate of child poverty in London, 2 out of 5 people in the borough live in poverty, and it remains one of the most deprived areas in the UK. Having been born and raised down the road in Newham, which is not without its own poverty crisis, these matters mean a lot to me, and I am in awe of the work the people at First Love Foundation do every day.

We've all seen and felt the effects of the current cost of living crisis, with energy bills rocketing, and food prices dramatically increasing. For me, this means fewer trips to the pub, or maybe not buying that dress this month, but for many across the country, and especially in Tower Hamlets, it means choosing between heating and eating. It means skipping meals, not celebrating birthdays, or not being able to afford basic clothing. The wealth disparity in this country is increasing, and the poorest in our communities are being hit the hardest during this crisis.

Any donation is appreciated, big or small, to be part of the fight against poverty - hopefully we can hit my target! And hey, I'll even update you all with embarrassing sweaty selfies, and probable tears on the day - what more could you want...

Thank you, big love,

Tabs x