I am running the Manchester Marathon to support the vital services that Shelter provides. The housing crisis is a national emergency and right now, millions of people are trying to get by without a safe place to call home.

I've chosen to run for Shelter as since joining the social housing sector two years ago, and indeed before, I've been impressed by their campaigning for everyone's right to a home.

In my job as Senior Communications Manager at Magna Housing, a housing association providing 9,000 homes across in Dorset, Somerset and Devon, I've become acutely aware of the vital role a home plays as a foundation for life, as well as of my own privilege and previous ignorance of the nature of homelessness and the challenges far too many people experience in finding and keeping a safe, healthy, affordable home for them and their loved ones.

I want to use the experience of fundraising for Shelter to learn more about people's lived experiences of homelessness and insecure housing. Some may say working for a housing association is inconsistent with Shelter's mission, as the failings of landlords are often in their sights.

But I passionately disagree. We desperately need more, better quality social housing and providers naturally have a massive role to play in partnership with tenants, communities and organisations like Shelter to push for positive, long-lasting change.

The more people that know about Shelter the greater the impact will be. Please spread the word by sharing my page far and wide, with your friends, family, colleagues and as many people as you can reach.

Thank you in advance for any kind donations!

#AHomeIsEverything