In support of "Jacari", a charity close to Ezra’s heart

On 9th November, I’ll be running the Athens authentic Marathon, following the legendary route from Marathon to Athens — the birthplace of long-distance running, and a landscape rich in classical history. It’s my first marathon & a challenging one at that with a 20km uphill stretch from km11-31 considered one of the hardest of any major marathon course.

It’s a route that feels deeply symbolic because of my own long-standing love of Greece and the ancient world and one which I shared with my cousin Ezra who was studying Classics and Arabic at Oxford, before they died, aged 22.

Ezra had been volunteering with Jacari, a small Oxford-based charity that pairs university students with children who speak English as an additional language — many of whom are refugees or asylum seekers. They would go into schools, listen to children read, talk with them, and offer support in whatever ways they could.

Ezra was proud of that work — and rightly so. It reflected their care for others, their commitment to justice and education, and their belief in creating a more compassionate world.

As a teacher myself, I feel a connection to this cause. It brings together education, inclusion, and support for young people in need — values that matter immensely to me and that Ezra lived by.

Jacari is a small charity making a real difference. Funds raised through this run will go directly to supporting their work with children across Oxford and Bristol.

I’m running this marathon in my cousin's name — to honour their memory, their principles, and their generosity of spirit.

If you can, please consider donating. Every contribution, however small, will help further a cause Ezra cared about deeply.

With thanks,

James