For years, running has meant different things to me. It was a refuge when my children were small, and a way to stay connected with friends during lockdown. Today, running is how I connect with nature. Every stride through our local countryside grounds me, but it also reminds me of what we are rapidly losing.

Why I’m Taking on the Cheltenham Half Marathon This is the first time I’ve ever used a race to draw attention to a cause, but Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s Mission Wild Campaign is one that means a lot to me.

Gloucestershire’s Wild spaces have declined at an alarming rate:

Precious hedgerows stripped away

Vital habitats fragmented and lost

Land and rivers polluted

1 in 6 UK species now faces extinction

As habitats for wildlife are destroyed, our native species vanish. But nature can recover if we give it the chance. The successful return of the Large Blue butterfly and Pine Marten to Gloucestershire have shown it’s possible if only we give it the chance it needs.

Where Your Donation Goes Every pound donated to Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust stays right here in our county. Your support enables GWT to:

Restore Landscapes: Rebuilding hedgerows and connecting broken habitats.

Protect Habitats: Holding local planning systems accountable to safeguard nature.

Bring Back Species: Reintroducing key native species and helping them thrive.

Inspire Communities: Connecting more local people and children with the wild.

How You Can Help I'm pounding the pavement for 13.1 miles so our local wildlife can have a safe place to live. Please consider supporting my run today. No amount is too small, and every single donation helps transform Gloucestershire’s landscapes for generations to come.

Thank you so much for your support!