Words like ‘lockdown’, ‘hand-hygiene’ and ‘self-isolation’ have entered our common vocabulary in previously unimaginable ways. However, although the problems posed by the virus are the same, the ability of countries and communities to respond effectively are vastly different:

• If you live in an overcrowded urban slum, with whole families crammed into single rooms, ‘isolation’ is impossible.
• If you don’t have running water, or can’t afford soap, ‘hand-hygiene’ is meaningless.
• If you survive on income from daily labour, or small market trading, ‘lockdown’ means starvation.

Not all countries can afford wage subsidies. Not all families have savings to fall back on. Panic-buying means prices quickly escalate beyond the reach of the poorest families. And if healthcare in rich nations is creaking under the strain of COVID-19, there is zero chance of adequate healthcare for the poorest across much of the globe.

Global Care are using their Children At Risk funds to step up in this crisis however it will not last long and this is why we are taking part in the 2.6 challenge as a family.

On Sunday Charlotte is going to complete 260 cartwheels, Josh is going to run 260 lengths of the garden (over 2.6km) and Anita is going to climb the stairs 260 times (the equivalent of the tallest building in the world - the Burj Khalifa. What about Chris? he'll be counting everything whilst providing at least 26 drinks for us!

We understand that this is a difficult time for us all, however anything you can give will make a huge difference to these children that already had so little and now have even less. Thankyou