Hi I'm Innes and I'll be running the 2026 Edinburgh Marathon for Children's Holiday Venture (CHV)!

Children’s Holiday Venture is a student-run charity established in 1963, based in Edinburgh. We work with approximately 150 children who have been referred to us by social workers, schools, and GPs. Our mission is to improve the children’s emotional wellbeing, confidence, and social skills through free fortnightly activity evenings, day trips, and residential camps.

I've had the complete joy of being part of CHV these past two years, and have been on its committee since March 2025 serving as Activities Officer and, since March 2026, President. All of the children we work with are fabulous and I come back from every activity with a huge smile on my face! The charity's work really does have such a meaningful impact - for both the children and the volunteers.

My decision to take on the challenge of Edinburgh Marathon has been partially inspired by a particularly memorable interaction with a child during one activity evening. It went something along the lines of:

- Innes: Do you think I could run a marathon?

*Child lets out a BIG big laugh*

- Child: No.

*pause*

- Child: I don't know if you could run to that tree.

Reader, full transparency, the tree was under twenty metres away.

So now it appears to be my turn to live by the advice to let actions speak louder than words.

Will I make it to the end? Who knows. In any case, I'd like to believe I'll at least reach the second tree on the course.

Your support could mean:

£10: funds one night out for one child

£20: buys healthy snacks and drinks for one group of children

£60: will pay for a semester’s worth of activities for a child

£100: funds a whole group’s activity evening

£200: pays for a child’s space at a three day residential camp

£400: funds a whole group’s day trip

For more information on CHV please see our website: https://childrensholidayventure.com/

Thanks for taking the time to read about my challenge. Any donations and/or shares are always appreciated,

Innes :)

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.