On March 1st, I will be hitting the streets of Brighton to run 13.1 miles in the Brighton Half Marathon. While the training is tough, I have a very special motivation driving me toward the finish line: supporting the incredible students at Hamilton Lodge School & College.

My journey with Hamilton Lodge started through a chance encounter. Four years ago, I was working at a gaming bar where we offered Ben and Josh some work experience. Working alongside their teacher, Juliet, it was truly great to see the joy that the work brought to them. It was amazing to watch them develop new skills and gain confidence in a workplace setting.

During their time at the bar, Ben and Josh even took the time to teach me some sign language. It was a brilliant experience that stayed with me, and now I would like to return the favour. Seeing firsthand how much a bit of opportunity and support can mean to these young people is exactly why I’ve decided to fundraise for the school while taking on this challenge.