My name is Claire and I’m excited to be running my first marathon this September. I’ll be raising money for the Denis Hurley Centre, which is a cause close to my heart. Although I now live in London, I used to work as a journalist in South Africa and saw first-hand both the beauty of the country and its people but also the huge challenges that many still face.

The Denis Hurley Centre in Durban runs innovative and practical projects to support some of the most deprived people in the city. It offers health clinics, pastoral care and helps people start up their own business. Most importantly, it treats everyone like a human being.

I really want to support this work, which is why I’ll be raising money for the Denis Hurley Centre when I run the New Forest Marathon in the UK on 10th September.