Many of you may be asking, "She's trying this again?! After last time?" I can't say I blame you. I've had the same thoughts run through my head.

Two years ago I tackled one of the hardest physical challenges I've ever done and ran a half marathon to raise money for Mind, who helped me tremendously with my mental health struggles. And given I hadn't been a runner for too long, I assumed everyone hurt the way I did when running, especially in the last few weeks of training, and on the day of the half.

Little did I know at the time, I ran the half with a broken hip.

I wasn't sure another half was something I would do again, but with doctors and physical therapist blessings, an amazing coach, and 2 more years of strength work in me, I'm doing it again, but this year, for a much bigger goal.

I am a US immigrant in the UK (now Dual Citizen). I've had it as easy as it can be (which btw, still included 7 years of having my relationship and life scruitinized, 5 visa processes, 1 citizenship test, and a citizenship process - each coming with their own eye watering sum of money, judgement and restrictions).

But many people don't get it this easy. Nor do they get a choice when leaving their home country. Add in the disgusting rhetoric that is circulating about immigrants, refugees, and anyone that may need a helping hand, and imagine trying to live like that. Raise a family like that. All in a new place with new customs, new languages, new ways of life.

Particularly with the hateful action in the USA surrounding immigration, we need to be doing all we can in this country to SUPPORT each other. We cannot follow the trend and must be better.

AidBox Community has been working hard to care for these individuals, and they've done an amazing job at doing so. I've seen so much of their work in action over the last few years and it's beyond commendable. People have come over and embraced life here, started businesses, started restaurants sharing their culture and their food. But also, raising a family somewhere they feel safe. Everyone deserves a chance to be safe, living in a country where they can be free to be themselves.

It's a horrible time financially for so many. If you can spare some change to help, it would mean the world. But even if you cant, please, share your kindness to each other. It's what's lacking the absolute most right now.

So, follow along to see how this jog around Bristol goes. It will be filled with much more humor and sarcasm than the above may lead you to believe.

And as always, thank you for being you.

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Why Aid Box Community (ABC)?

Aid Box Community provides support, supplies and sanctuary to refugees and people seeking asylum arriving or living in Bristol and surrounding areas.

ABC’s Welcome Hub and Free Shop is open 5 days a week and is a place that refugees and people seeking asylum can use to choose the essential items they need: clothes, toiletries, household items, etc. Importantly, the Free shop provides choice, just like any other shop, so that people can reflect their identity and feel a sense of self-worth, dignity and pride.  

They also offer refugees and people seeking asylum multiple opportunities for social interactions through volunteering opportunities, a befriending service, and an activity programme that aims to reduce isolation and loneliness, improving people's mental and physical well-being, encouraging integration within the local community, and creating belonging.