I’ve signed up for the Brighton Marathon to raise money for the British Red Cross. On top of putting myself through what will likely be a miserable and painful run, I’ll be matching every donation up to the first £250.

In the scheme of things, I have been very lucky. I’ve had an easy life, born into a stable country where I’ve never been subject to famine, extreme poverty, natural disasters, or war. But that isn't the case for hundreds of millions of people across the world.

The Red Cross provides a vital safety net for those most in need, both here in the UK and across the globe. Whether they are supporting the 110,000 people impacted by disasters in the UK every year, the 1.4 million people living with extreme hunger in Gaza, or helping families of Yemen, where decades of conflict has left over 80% of the population struggles to access food, water, and healthcare.

Your donation goes a long way. Just £5 could provide a community in Bangladesh with water sanitation and hygiene training to prevent disease after a disaster. £20 could give a parent in the UK the essential items they need to care for a newborn, when they have lost everything due to flooding.

Any amount you can spare will make a genuine difference somewhere and it will make my inevitable inability to walk for several days feel much more worthwhile. Thank you for the support!