In 2008, when I fell pregnant with Jonah, Street Child was just starting working in Sierra Leone, it was the poorest nation in the world. Today, children continue to face significant barriers to learning, with 36% of children never completing primary school and many more leaving school without foundational literacy and numeracy skills. Without intervention, children risk getting stuck in a cycle of illiteracy and poverty.

13 years ago I ran my first Half Marathon and 3 years after that I ran my first marathon for GOSH with a thankful heart for all they had done for Jonah (and later Levi). I have always looked at Jonah and describe him / his recovery as my 'Why', my 'Reason for Running'.

I arrived at Big Church Festival, emotional, Jonah having just got his GCSE results that morning. Despite ALL the health, physical and emotional challenges all three of our children have faced, they have all achieved incredible GCSEs with thanks to an education and support system that we absolutely take for granted.

I started running back in 2012 to raise funds for GOSH but since then running has become a 'go-to', a way to keep fit, for my mental health and for the camaraderie that it brings. I raised funds in 2015 and 2017 for my London Marathons, but since then I have not felt comfortable asking for sponsorship for something that I do.

In 3 weeks I am heading to Berlin to try to tick off my second World Major and sightsee a city I have never been to en route. I have run 3 marathons in my life with a 2 year gap, a 6 year gap and a 2&half year gap to recover each time.

So, on my first morning at Big Church I went to join the 5K Fun Run. At the start of which the charity organising it talked about their work. I was shocked at how a relatively small amount of money makes SUCH a big impact in the countries they work in. Then, at the end they announced that they needed to fill a few places at their flagship marathon taking place in 8 weeks time, where the charity was first established. The fun run then started and I kept thinking about the children that this charity aims to reach. At the end they approached me and asked me to prayerfully consider joining the team heading to Sierra Leone in October.

Errrr... NO. Why would I do that?

I only run on tarmac and this is running in dirt.

I would need vaccinations and I really don't like injections.

Easyjet don't fly there.

I have 2 unallocated days of Annual Leave left and I could pop somewhere nice.

I am unlikely to have any toenails left and will probably be broken from Berlin.

There are a lot of places I want to visit in the world and Sierra Leone is NOT one of them.

I like to have 2 years recovery between marathons NOT FIVE WEEKS.

I HATE running in the heat and this is forecast to be 36 degrees celsius and 92% humidity aka HELL.

But... something kept eating away at me so when I returned from Big Church and was back in signal, I started researching, while doing so, Josh, the guy who I had met emailed at that exact moment, with an email that popped up with the subject "Paula, come to Sierra Leone".

Then, I had a thought and asked Jonah if he too would like to come? I explained that the only running he usually does is 22 yards from one cricket wicket to the other (and as batting is NOT his strong point he does not do THAT very often!!!) or from one end of a basketball court to another! And that this will be A LOT further. But in true enthusiastic Jonah style, he replied with “I would absolutely love to”! So Jonah will be running the Half Marathon and I will be running the Full Marathon. We will be visiting the projects and seeing first hand the work that Street Child undertake.

Please no one tell Jonah that HE needs injections as he hates them even more than me! No one mention the risk of 🐍 and 🕷️ AND and for the guy who likes to stay in bed till midday, please no one mention that he will have to get up at 03:30 😴 on race day!

So, we are joining the team! We are funding our travel, but need to raise £3000 for this incredible charity. Please do consider sponsoring us, even if just a few £ or even the price of one flat white/matcha vanilla latte/iced caramel frappe this week... it WILL make ALL the difference to the lives of these amazing children.