I visited South Sudan in November 2021 and was blown away by the youth football clubs that I came across. They provide teenagers - boys and girls - with a wonderful opportunity to play together and forget about the many challenges facing their communities. One of AID's trustees, Charles Raven, visited the Nuba Mountains in Sudan and had a similar experience with a youth football club there.

These children are poor. They play football barefoot or in worn-out trainers. Malish Simon, the manager of Yei Football Club was an ardent Liverpool fan. Sadly, he died in January 2022 due to a combination of illnesses which deteriorated quickly. Motivated by his Christian faith, he worked to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in Yei right up to his death.

I am running the Northumberland EnduranceLife half marathon on 26th February to raise funds to support these youth football clubs in Yei and the Nuba Mountains. The money will be used to purchase boots, balls, shirts and shorts for the teams. Thank you for your support!