This year, Louis and I are lacing up for Victoria Falls Marathon — Louis tackling the full marathon and me the half — in support of Play It Forward, a small charity with an extraordinary vision.

At the heart of a community in Zambia, football is being used as a catalyst for change — improving literacy and numeracy, supporting nutrition programmes, empowering young women, and creating opportunities for children who deserve every chance to thrive.

What inspires me most is what this remarkable team has already achieved with so little. In the last year alone, Play it Forward’s team of just 22 local Zambian staff delivered life-changing programmes to more than 2,500 young people — providing daily nutritious meals, improving literacy and numeracy, supporting girls through empowerment initiatives, and creating safe spaces where children can learn, grow, and thrive.

Today, the children still play on dirt pitches and the club’s headquarters is a shipping container. Yet the impact is already profound — proving that with the right support, this model has the power to transform

We have plans to build a permanent clubhouse that will become a centre for education, sport, community, and opportunity for generations to come. The vision is there. The team is there. We are simply waiting for the funds to make it a reality.

By supporting our marathon, you are not just funding a building — you are investing in the future of an entire community and helping create a model that could inspire others around the world.

Most importantly, every pound donated will go twice as far. Our Founder and Chairman, Oliver Brendon, has pledged to match all donations, pound for pound, up to £1 million towards the construction of the campus.

Please help us turn this dream into reality. Every donation makes a difference. ❤️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️