Can you imagine what it would be like to have to sleep on the streets? No comfy warm bed. In the rain, in the ice. Every night.

What hits me most about homelessness, is how easy it is for someone to slip into that situation. You’re a little short on cash (aren’t we all), you get into debt, so you can’t pay your rent. Your landlord kicks you out, after suing you for the rent you’re behind on. You stay at a friends for a while but they tell you it can’t be forever. Your friends situation changes and you have to leave. You can’t stay in a hotel, it’s too expensive. You stay at a hostel for a few nights, but you can’t buy cheap food because there’s no cooker to cook it on. You spend your last few pounds on a sandwich and a cup of tea to warm you up. And that’s it, your money is all gone. You’re homeless.

It can happen so quickly.

I can’t remember exactly what led me to look up the Hope4 Rugby charity, but when I read their stories and everything they do for my hometown, I was stunned.

I had an immediate desire to do something to raise money for them. Luckily for me, they had places on offer for the London Landmarks Half Marathon.

So I’m here now to ask you to dig about in your pockets and spare anything you can for this absolutely wonderful cause.

In return, I’ll run around London for a couple of hours! (Am I allowed to be excited about it? Because I can’t wait!)

Thank you everyone.

Much love

Fern

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