I'm running the Hackney Half marathon in aid of Action Syria (formerly the Hands Up Foundation), who work with local partners to make sure Syrian communities affected by the conflict, which started in 2011, have the medical care and education they need, every day and when emergencies strike.

Action Syria are a small, forward-thinking charity which believes in giving Syrians a hand up, not a handout. We provide a school to teach Syrian refugee children, vital healthcare, and deliver prosthetics to those who need them most in north-west Syria.

Action Syria is the operating name of The Hands Up Foundation, a registered charity in England and Wales (1156491).