I've been lucky enough to get a place in this year's London Marathon through my local running club, Kent AC.

Ever since a teacher at secondary school gave an assembly about running the London Marathon 36 or so years ago, it has always been something that registered on my radar as pretty awe inspiring, but probably not for me. I couldn't run. I hated running cross country at school. And i definitely couldn't run. Until I quite unexpectedly discovered that I could, and actually quite enjoyed it, after a visit to my local parkrun in 2016. Since then I've continued my love of parkrun- run directing at our local event in Catford, and running several half marathons over the past 6 years.

This will be my first marathon. As if the prospect of running 26 miles and 385 yards wasn't enough, I'm aiming to do this in under 3 hours 30 minutes. I'm fully expecting this to be a huge challenge. 5 weeks into my 16 week training programme and I've already clocked up nearly 200 miles in training - there's a long way still to go!

Lewisham Donation hub are a brilliant local charity, who provided amazing help during the pandemic when I set up a food bank at my daughters' school - Sandhurst Primary School. Laurence and his team coordinated food donations from a variety of sources to help groups such as ours - helping us to provide smoothies, frozen meals, and fresh fruit and veg to help top up our regular food packages.

More recently they have continued to provide an amazing local resource to help support those most at need in our society - often those whole have fallen through the cracks for other support. Their work has also helped to find good homes for countless items which would otherwise have ended up as waste. Any donation will help them to continue to provide their vital services.

Please give generously - this is a great cause very close to my heart - and it will definitely spur me on as i pound the pavements over the coming weeks!

Here's a bit more information about the great work they do: For those being moved into empty properties, fleeing DV, living homeless, seeking asylum, working but unable to live, or subsisting on a state pension, their capacity to fund even the most basic of essentials is effectively zero. We've been working tirelessly for over 4 years to help meet their needs (and in so doing, bring comfort, nutrition, hope and opportunity to tens of thousands of households).

Our service is unique in London, which means it is always under acute pressure. Whether from referrals from the NHS, homelessness charities, Citizens Advice, Migrant Help and other charities. Or from some of the 340 households per week that come to us directly in the most desperate of situations.

By donating to this fund, you will help us to sustain the purchase of footwear, food, toiletries, essential electricals and many other core items that do so much to lift so many. We hope you will join us. For those we endeavour to help, and for the natural world our sharing helps to protect 💕