In 2013, I walked through the doors of Toybox for the very first time — just as we were beginning our very first birth registration project in Guatemala City, a place where around 700,000 people still live without being officially recognised. I still remember reading those initial stories of children who had no official papers, no legal identity and, because of that, no access to protection, education, or even medical care.

Since that moment, birth registration has never been “just part of my job.” It has become something I believe in deeply. A simple piece of paper that can change a whole life.

And now, after 13 years at Toybox, I’m taking on something completely new and genuinely daunting: my first ever half marathon, followed three weeks later by the MK Rocket 5k and the MK Marathon Relay. For someone who is not a natural runner, this challenge feels huge. But every time I have a wobble , I think about the children who face far greater challenges every single day, with none of the safety nets we take for granted.

The London Landmarks Half Marathon is three days before my 44th birthday and is also International Day of the Street Child. It feels incredibly meaningful that the average cost of helping a child get their birth certificate through Toybox is £44.

So this year, I’m running for the children whose names aren’t written down anywhere — the ones who deserve recognition, protection, and a future.

If you’re able to support me, whether by donating, sharing, or cheering me on, you’ll be helping transform the life of a child who deserves the chance to be counted.