If you know me, you will know I like to do something at least once a year for Charity!

Something that most normal humans would rather pay me to do, than do themselves. Well, this one is no different and, even I am wondering, if I have gone a step to far!! 😊

My journey started last year, raising money for www.cosycoats.co.uk,
a charity that has captured my heart, and the hearts of many.

My daughter is now 21, and I had never had to give a second thought about winter clothing or summer clothing, so here’s a question for you; can you imagine for just one minute, your son or daughter, niece or nephew, cousins, or even just the child down the street having to go to school without a winter coat, winter shoes or even a dry pair of socks!!

For me this is unimaginable, and I just cannot walk past and allow this to be ok. I make it my business not to ever be judge and jury, so the why, is for another discussion. Even if I know ‘why’ it does not STOP a child being cold.

We have all been cold to the core, where you cannot get warm, it is
impossible to concentrate, to smile, to engage. What about if you were put into a classroom, wet, cold and with no socks, how can we expect these children to learn, to embrace school, the environment, how can we get the best out of them when one of their basic needs have not been met?

Cosy Coats is a charity that has blown me away because this charity spend every single penny buying warm winter clothing to children in need. BUT…… and here is where it gets exciting, these children can choose their own coats, they can choose colour, shape, texture & hoods. How much pride, empowerment and engagement do you think you would get from a child who walks into school one day with a self-chosen coat, winter shoes, warm feet, and a simple pair of socks?

If you want to know more about how this charity started then please go to the link www.cosycoats.co.uk

Here is my story to raise money for this charity.

I am an overweight 50-year-old (just over 50, I would like
to add) I found out that Cosy Coats had secured 6 places in the London Landmark half marathon on April 7^th, 2024, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, nope nope nope nope nope…. And a BIG OLD NOPE!!!

Then I started to think about it (thinking is always dangerous)!! Could I do that? Is it even possible to be ready for April? I need to start at running for a minute first, I need to drop a tonne (no exaggeration) of weight. I couldn’t get further from ground zero if I tried!!!

So, to cut a long story short, in April 2024 I will be running the London Landmark Half Marathon, ok I said it, I wish that was the hard part!!! 13.1 miles, my stomach just flipped as I typed that.

 5 weeks in now and I am running 7 minutes without stopping, I have another 5-weeks training to get to a 5k and b