On Sunday April 1st I’ll be running the Reading Half Marathon.

The goal: to raise money for Tearfund’s water and sanitation work, and get fit in the process! For millions of people across the world, safe water and sanitation are luxuries beyond their wildest dreams. 780 million people still live without clean water, and a shocking 2.5 billion people don’t have a safe place to go to the toilet. Every 20 seconds a child under five dies in the developing world from a preventable illness caused by unclean water or lack of basic sanitation - an injustice I cannot accept. Latrines, uncontaminated water supply and simple hand washing can stop these diseases spreading and destroying communities.

Tearfund’s church-based partners across the world are enabling communities to build and maintain their own toilet and water facilities - one of the most cost-effective ways to release people from poverty. Check out Tearfund's website if you want to be inspired by some of the amazing work they do!

www.tearfund.org; http://www.tearfund.org/en/get_involved/give/see_for_yourself

Fifteen-year-old Stidia lives in Kigazi, a mountaintop village in Uganda. Her day used to begin and end with a two hour hike down a steep and dangerous mountainside to collect water, carrying a 20-litre jerry can back up to the village. She was exposed to the threat of violence, and often missed school.

But now Stidia has the chance to realise her potential. In Kigazi, Tearfund’s partner, working with the local church, has trained and resourced village women’s groups to build rainwater collection tanks. Stidia’s family now has clean water, and her mountainside trek is no longer needed. She can go to school and is free from danger. Water-related diseases and deaths in the village have dramatically decreased. (To see Stidia’s story, click on the 5-minute video below.)

I’m aiming to finish the 13.1 miles in less than two hours - the time Stidia spent trekking for water every morning. Thank you so much for any support you can give – it’ll make a huge difference for people like Stidia, and will help to save lives across the world.  

Accumulated gifts could pay for:

£15 could give one person daily access to clean water in Uganda.

£25 could provide eight families in Uganda with latrine slabs, making their toilets safer and more hygienic. 

£100 could help protect a natural spring from pollution in Uganda, ensuring safe water for 100 people. 

£300 sees a 4,000 litre rainwater tank built at the home of a family - providing water for up to 15 people, neighbours included!

 (Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. JustGiving will never sell personal details or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Tearfund and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer.)