As a sporty person I have been asked all my life if I’ll do a marathon, and I have been perfectly clear in my answer:

“No, absolutely not, I have no interest in doing a marathon whatsoever!”

But in March 2015 something happened. I got a job at Save the Children International, and that changed two fundamental things for me. Firstly, I suddenly had a cause. It’s not that I haven’t given to, or raised money for, charities in the past nor is it that there aren’t charities close to my heart. But this is different. I feel an overwhelming commitment to Save the Children, and am deeply inspired to help them make a difference. Secondly, I started running home to Wimbledon once a week from the office in Trafalgar square – 9 miles. Prior to that my ‘long runs’ were 6 miles, and they seemed a stretch to be honest! But after 16 weeks of running 9 miles every Tuesday, as well as my other exercise, it dawned on me that I wasn't far off a marathon training plan anyway!

These two things led me to seek and accept a place in the London marathon, for Save the Children. Save the Children’s vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. In 2014, Save the Children reached over 55 million children directly. Since I have been here, I've had the opportunity to see Syrian and Afghan children in refugee camps in Greece, who have experienced horrendous atrocities, playing happily in Child friendly spaces. I have seen kids in child labour living in slums in Delhi, who now have access to clean toilets and learning opportunities, and I have seen kids in rural areas in Africa given access to early year’s education that they would otherwise not have. All this because of Save the Children’s work.

But they can’t do it without funding.

So I’m going to train my butt off for 16 weeks, and then run 26.2 miles on 24^th April 2016. I would be very grateful if you are happy to sponsor me to do this. Please feel free to send this page on to anyone else who you think would like to help.

With heartfelt thanks,

Claire

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