A very big thank you to all who helped me raise money for this excellent charity - I greatly appreciate your support!

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With an 11th hour invite to run, I'm not what you might describe as well-prepared(!) but, with forty days' notice, I've just signed up compete in a 24-hour race, fundraising for Southend's leading homeless charity, HARP.

From noon today, Saturday 21st June to noon on Sunday 22nd, I will run as many laps of the woody, off-road 8k course as possible; morning, noon and night...I'm taking a tent for possible naps, but aiming significantly to beat the 50k mark, which will be my longest run to date. I don't doubt my mind - I lost that years ago - but my knees are another matter entirely!

However...

No one should be homeless.

HARP is Southend’s leading homelessness charity, providing housing, advice and support to over 1,000 people each year who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing their home. They help them lay the foundations they need to rebuild their lives and end the need for rough sleeping for good.

Working alongside the local community, they provide street outreach every night supporting people into emergency accommodation. When people’s basic needs are met, the real work begins. Their ongoing support is tailored to each individual’s needs and includes finding permanent accommodation, building life skills; overcoming challenges such as addiction or health conditions, and in time, helping people back into work, education, or training.

For every £1 you donate to their team, 96 pence will go directly to the frontline to support people experiencing homelessness in Southend-on-Sea.

They cannot continue our vital work without your support. JustGiving give 100% of your donation to HARP.

Thank you for your support!

Marty.