In May 2015, I will be travelling to Mozambique along with some of my colleagues and ActionAid to build a much-needed library for schools in Nhongonhane, Marracuene District. There is no library in Marracuene, so schoolchildren lack important resources to aid their studies. Children need to travel to the nearest overcrowded library in Maputo to source books, so it's not only expensive for parents to pay for the travel and time-consuming for the students. As a result these children are often forced to drop out of school. 

I went to fantastic schools and had access to a safe, clean, well-resourced library, meaning I developed a love of books early on, and thrived through school and University as a result. I am really happy to be able to be part of a project which enables children from a different background to have the similar opportunities.

By helping to build the library alongside local people we will not only leave the community with a proper learning facility but our hard work will help motivate and lift the spirits of the local people. Each member of our team will be raising £1,250 to fund the raw materials and supplies. When we arrive, we will be digging foundations, mixing cement, clearing land, making window frames and doing some metal work over a 5 day period. 

Please note the accommodation/travel etc is paid for by me and the company so all donations go direct to the charity, so please donate generously to ActionAid so they can carry on their work in developing countries, crunching poverty under foot and providing access to things that you and I take for granted - freedom, education, safety...the list goes on.

 I'll be running regularly and taking part in running events to help fund the cause, and also doing some fundraising with my colleagues in the run-up to the event.

I did the 10k Santa Run in Victoria Park on Sunday 7th December - I wasn't sure I'd make it due to injury during training but managed to run the whole thing, and finished in 1:08:44!

I've also signed up for the Hampton Court Half Marathon in March 2015 - that's 13.1 miles.....TWENTY TWO KILOMETRES, a daunting but welcome challenge which I am hoping makes you all fancy digging deep in support of this slightly round-bellied, ex-smoking, nonrunner!

If you've got any fundraising ideas I'd love to hear them - I am saving anything baked bean related as an absolute last resort - don't make me do it!

I'll keep you posted on our efforts and if you tell me you'd like me to, I'll dedicate a brick to you

Thanks for reading my fundraising page.