By supporting me in the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Bloomsbury Football Foundation, you are helping to transform thousands of young lives.

The 700,000 children and young people in London living in poverty are growing up in a perfect storm, facing an inactivity pandemic and a mental health crisis. Young people who are less physically and mentally fit do less well in life.

Bloomsbury Football Foundation's mission is to tackle health and social inequalities through the power of football, which as the most popular sport on earth, is a powerful way to reach young people and an effective antidote to these challenges. Yet, far too many young people are being priced out of the beautiful game, with dire consequences to their health, wellbeing, and opportunities in life.

Bloomsbury's specialist programmes bring together young people from vastly different backgrounds, get those facing the worst health outcomes active and healthy, and offer vital social connection to a generation growing up starved of it. Focusing their support on children living in the bottom 5% of areas nationally for the Income Deprivation Affecting Children, their programmes take place on housing estates, at schools, and in the community.

Through an innovative financial assistance model, they work to ensure that no young person is priced out, alongside inclusive programmes for young refugees, asylum seekers, and children living with disabilities.

Please help me support their hugely impactful work by donating. Thank you!