Next Saturday 2 May would have been the 10th Ealing Eagles 10k race. But while youre stuck indoors, lamenting the loss of yet another race in the calendar, spare a thought for people with nowhere safe or permanent to stay during the Coronavirus lockdown.

As well as runners missing out on the race itself, its cancellation means that womens homelessness charity A Mile in Her Shoes the clubs chosen charity for the year will miss out on vital income that would have been donated from the races proceeds.

So, next week, the club is challenging its members to get behind a very special event to support A Mile in Her Shoes: the 1 Mile Lockdown Challenge!

Its a 1-mile course with a difference: it must be done entirely in your home or its outside space! You could ask people you know to sponsor you as a great way to raise money for the charity, otherwise were suggesting a donation of £5 from every club member who completes the challenge.

About the charity:

A Mile in Her Shoes helps women to get moving as they move on from homelessness, It offers free indoor and outdoor running and fun fitness activities in a safe space, plus sports bras, trainers and all the support women recovering from homelessness may need to take part.

The lockdown in particular has had an impact upon people who sleep rough, are staying in temporary and crowded hostel accommodation and refuges, where women and girls flee in desperation to escape violence.

It has local roots in Ealing and was founded by club member Nicola Miller, whilst fellow Eagle Celia Roberts is very actively involved trustee. Many other Ealing Eagles have been involved locally, whether helping to lead activities, volunteering their time and skills in some way, or fundraising for the charity.

How to take part:

1. Select the space in your home, garden or private outdoor space no streets or public spaces please - where you will complete the 1 mile challenge. You can walk, run, hop, whatever you prefer.

2. Grab a tape measure and measure 1 lap of your course in feet or metres:

In metres:

1609 divided by one lap of your course in metres = how many laps you need to complete to do 1 mile.

In feet:

5280 divided by one lap of your course to the nearest foot = how many laps you need to complete to do 1 mile.

3. Complete 1 mile challenge between Saturday 2 and Friday 9 May. Bonus points if you can capture it on Strava!

4. Get a photo or video of yourself taking part or at the end and share it with the hashtag #1milelockdownchallenge in the Ealing Eagles Facebook group or on your own social media newsfeed!

5. Dont forget to visit JustGiving and donate £5 or whatever you can afford to A Mile in Her Shoes:

If youd like to create a fundraising page and ask people to sponsor you, visit

6. Post on your Facebook wall, in the Ealing Eagles Facebook group, Twitter, wherever you prefer with: I completed the Ealing Eagles #1milelockdownchallenge for A Mile in Her Shoes! If you can tag the charity (@InHerShoesHQ) in your post and include the JustGIving link where other people can donate, even better!