Having just stepped down as a Trustee of the Syrian Refugee Relief Fund after 5 years in the role, I wanted to pledge my continued support to the invaluable work which the Charity undertakes by running another ultra marathon.... I am doing the TransRockies Run - a 120 mile / 6 day stage race through the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, camping throughout the event.

Funding all race entry, kit/equipment/food and flight costs personally, Johanna and I set off for this challenge whilst raising money for this wonderful cause as we go.

The SRRF was founded by people who are passionately devoted to bringing what relief they can to refugees in Syria and neighbouring countries. Most of the fighting has now reduced, the news headlines have diminished and other conflicts take centre stage, but the suffering continues and millions of people are in need of help, facing dire conditions.

Run entirely by voluntary Trustees (enabling 99.5% of the funding we receive to go directly to those we help), the SRRF funds a targeted number of orphans with complex and varied needs; amputees with ongoing and evolving prosthetics requirements; and over 800 children through full time education each year.

The absence of schools in the Raqqa area and further afield left many children without proper education. For this reason, there is a very visible and urgent need for educational support and for the funding to enable children to obtain their right to obtaining a proper schooling.

Since 2022 the SRRF has committed to funding the Mahmoudli Camp Formal Primary School - providing formal education for 802 children until summer 2025. As well as providing teaching, administrative support and the maintenance of classrooms, our funding enables the school to connect to sustainable sources of both water and electricity. Moreover, the tents which provide the temporary classrooms have been rehabilitated and re equipped, guaranteeing a safe and more conducive learning environment for the pupils. This year, we built 4 new permanent classrooms - each equipped with air conditioning for the extreme heat of summer, and heating for the bitterly cold winters- resulting in more comfortable teaching environments.

We have recently expanded this to funding a summer school on the same premises - providing ongoing educational activity for the children over the summer months. This reduces the ever present risks of families being tempted to enter their children into either the child labor workforce, or arranged marriages (both which can alleviate family financial pressure).

If you are able to support, please rest assured that every single pound donated will go directly to the SRRF and the programmes which the charity supports.

Please do ensure that you opt to 'add Gift Aid' to your donation, which adds a further 25% to whatever you give. Gift Aid is a tax relief which allows UK charities to reclaim this extra % on every donation made by UK taxpayers. It all adds up and makes a huge difference.

Many thanks for anything that you feel able to give.