With Covid-19 resulting in more and more people self-isolating and feeling disconnected, the need for connection has never been greater.Thats why Im taking part in the #RemoteRelay, taking on a 10k RUN to raise money for East London Cares. East London Cares is a community network of young professionals (18+) and older neighbours (65+) hanging out and helping one another in our rapidly changing city. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, they ran four core programmes: Social Clubs, Love Your Neighbour, Proactive Outreach and Community Fundraising. Now they have transitioned their much-loved programmes to virtual ones; Virtual Social Clubs, phone friendships, #AloneTogether packs full of daily creative activities and regular check-in calls with the most isolated in their network.Please consider donating to help me keep these vital connections going during this time of uncertainty.

Having volunteered for East London Cares since October last year I’ve seen first hand the incredible work they do, I’ve attended many real life and virtual social clubs and always leave with a huge smile on my face. Not only is it great for social connection, but also great to connect with people of a different generation. I’ve also been volunteering through the phone friendships scheme since May. Every week I phone a wonderful lady called Val, and over the past 10 weeks a friendship has formed and I look forward to our phone calls and hearing more of her amazing stories and life experiences. Val has been shielding since lockdown so gets very little social contact so in her own words ‘these phone calls really help me to keep going and brighten my day’ None of this would be possible without the brilliant work that The Cares Family do. Any donation big or small to help reach my £100 target would make a huge difference to an amazing charity. Thanks so much!