Maya’s Challenge for Meals & More

Maya is 14 years old and is taking on the Mini Marathon challenge of 1.5 miles (2.5 km). miles around Nottingham in support of Meals & More, helping other children access healthy meals, safe spaces, and enriching activities during the school holidays.

Robin Hood Mini Marathon 2026 · 27 September 2026

Story

Every child deserves access to healthy food, safe places to spend time, and opportunities to thrive during the school holidays. Yet millions of children across the UK face food insecurity when free school meals are unavailable.

That’s why I’m taking on this challenge in 2026 to raise money for Meals & More and help support children and families who need it most.

This isn’t just about running – it’s about pushing myself far beyond my comfort zone to help ensure that no child goes hungry during the school holidays.

I’ll be joining Team Strides for Smiles for the Robin Hood Mini Marathon in Nottingham.

The 1.5mile city-centre race is one of the East Midlands’ biggest running events, attracting thousands of runners and supporters each year.

I’ll be running alongside an incredible team of fundraisers, all united by one goal – helping children and young people access healthy meals, enriching activities, and support during the school holidays.

Why Meals & More?

When schools close for the holidays, many children lose access to the healthy meals, routine, and support they rely on during term time.

Meals & More brings communities together to help bridge that gap by supporting holiday clubs that provide:

Nutritious meals

Fun and enriching activities

Safe places for children to spend their holidays

Support for families facing financial pressure

Since 2015, Meals & More has grown from just four holiday clubs to more than 400 across the UK, supporting the provision of over 2.5 million meals through trusted community partners. Their ambition is to help provide one million meals every year by 2030.

Every donation helps support this mission and makes a genuine difference to children and families across the country.

What your donation could provide

£13.50 – provides one healthy meal for 10 children during the school holidays

£40.50 – provides one healthy meal for 30 children during the school holidays

£135.00 – provides one healthy meal for an entire holiday club of around 100 children for one day*

*Club sizes vary, so this amount covers a full club of around 100 children for one day; smaller clubs require less.

Meals & More commented…

Maya has joined our Robin Hood Mini Marathon as part of Team Strides for Smiles and we are thrilled!

Her commitment, determination, and willingness to push herself to the limit will help raise vital funds so that children can access healthy meals and safe, supportive holiday activities when they need them most.

If you’re able to support Maya, every donation – whatever the amount – will help Meals & More continue its vital work and make a real difference to children and families across the UK.

Thank you for supporting Maya and Meals & More. Together, we can help ensure no child goes hungry during the school holidays.