The turn of the new millennium saw a significant rise in the number of Zimbabwean families and individuals settling in the United Kingdom. In 2009, a number of these individuals, who are practising Anglicans, got together to form the Zimbabwe National Anglican Fellowship (ZINAFE) UK with the aim of meeting and worshipping together in the mother tongues, at least once a month. The Fellowship has since grown to 12 branches spread across all geographical locations of England. With this growth also came the realisation that there were needs peculiar to this community demographic that could only be properly addressed through a targeted and registered charity. To consummate this vision, ZINAFE got registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales in February 2020. However, the early days of the registered charity also coincided with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. That, somewhat, hampered the progress in physically setting up the charity but, on the other hand, it further reinforced the existence of needs within the demographic that had earlier been identified. In addition to catering for the spiritual well being of any members of the communities where it operates, ZINAFE is setting up structures to identify and support not only the elderly, infirm and lonely within the demographic and wider society, but also young persons in need of mentors, role models and advisors to help them focus their minds and drive up attainment and community cohesion where it might otherwise falter. Further, the connectedness of this demographic with the country of origin provides a wide lens to view the huge and often desperate needs of the underprivileged in Zimbabwe who live well below the poverty line and with no meaningful support from any sources. ZINAFE is setting up programmes aimed at poverty alleviation working through the five Anglican Dioceses of the Church Province of Central Africa (CPCA).

I am taking part in the Brighton Marathon 2021 race to raise the much needed funds to bring these planned activities on stream. I kindly appeal to your generosity to dig deep and offer a helping hand. I promise to dig deep and finish the 42.2 km (26.2 miles) undulating course over how long it will take, although I will be happy with a gruelling 7 hours!

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Thank you!