UPDATE: Wow, a quarter of the way there already! Thanks so much to everyone who's donated so far, you're amazing!

What is this?!

'Izzy? Running a half marathon? Pigs will fly first!' you might be thinking. But I promise, that's exactly what I'm going to be doing a month from now - to help raise money for my old secondary school's partner institution in Uganda.

About the Schools

The Herts and Essex High School and Eden High School have been partners since 2001 - I had the privilege of watching this relationship grow and develop throughout my seven years at Herts and Essex from 2007-2014. In 2014 I was part of the leavers group who made an annual three week visit to Uganda, which confirmed to me everything that I'd hoped to be true about our partnership with Eden: here were the tangible long-term results of our years of fundraising and mutual support. Eden High School provides amazing educational opportunities to its students - many of whom attend on scholarships - as well as enriching the wider community, including their feeder primary schools. I promised myself that if I could, I'd continue my relationship with Eden even after leaving Herts and Essex - and now, three years on, I've decided it's time to get back in touch.

Eden High School isn't a huge charity - they rely on small-scale fundraisers and personal donations like this one. The benefit of this is that unlike bigger charities, it's easy to see exactly where your money is going. Here are some of the ongoing projects around the school which this fundraiser will help finance...

-The main project at the moment is construction of a new classroom block to replace an old wooden structure which is falling down. Eden has 400 students now and insufficient space to teach them. The bricks have been made but there is still a lot of construction to do.

-There is always a need for mosquito nets for the boarding students since they become worn and holes develop.

-The need for food is ongoing. 2 years of drought (some rain but less than usual) has pushed up food prices... as has the massive influx of refugees from South Sudan.

About the Race

I'm running the Oxford Half Marathon - my first 10k+ race, and my first ever half marathon! - on 8th October 2017. Because I've never attempted a race so long before, I'm not setting myself a time limit... if I manage to cross the finish line I'll be elated.

I'm not a naturally athletic person and I'm a bit (VERY) nervous about this race, so it would mean the world if you'd consider giving me a morale boost in the form of a sponsorship! Your donation will be going towards an extremely good cause :)

Thank you!

Here's a video celebrating one of Eden's previous fundraising projects, an improved clean water supply.