Oh crap, I’ve agreed to run a marathon. I’m sure my toenails will be delighted at the news.

Here’s why though...

What’s the situation?

There are more child refugees in Europe than at any point since the end of the second world war. Children are fleeing from war and disaster, and borders across Europe are closing, making their journeys even more dangerous and difficult. There are no safe and legal routes across Europe and many refugee children have been separated from their families. Children are being stranded at refugee transit centres, unable to seek asylum or reach their families.

Why does it matter to me?

My brother has just spent eight months living in Lesbos, the first point of contact with Europe for many refugees. He worked as a volunteer at a refugee camp that specialises in looking after the most vulnerable refugees, particularly children who make up about half of the residents. He’s also spent time at the Calais ‘jungle’ and gave up a lot of time volunteering at a shelter for destitute asylum seekers in Glasgow before he left for Lesbos. Talking to him about his experiences really brings the gravity of the situation home. No one should have to live like that, especially children.

Why Unicef?

Unicef have established child and family support hubs across Europe. They provide a range of services, including family reunification, child-friendly spaces, first aid, psychosocial and emotional care, legal counselling, safe spaces for women and children to sleep and outreach social workers. In Greece, they provide quality education to almost 5,000 refugee and migrant children, and have put special emphasis on helping unaccompanied children – 400 will be provided with temporary accommodation as they wait for asylum, family reunification or relocation in Europe.

And that’s why I’ve decided to run my first ever marathon for Unicef. I can’t hope to give as much as Isaac has to help these children in need, few of us can. But I can run 26.2 miles around London. And you can all do your bit by sponsoring me whatever you can spare.

Why should you donate?

Here’s how your money could help:

£23 could provide a child with ready to use food for a month in an emergency.

£55 could help train a health worker to provide life-saving care for children.

£75 could buy exercise books for 180 children and pencils for a whole school.

So please donate now and help keep a child safe.

Unicef's response to Europe’s child refugee crisis is just one of their programmes. You can find out more about the great work they do across 190 different countries here: www.unicef.org.uk/what-we-do 

You can follow my training and keep me on track here: www.strava.com/athletes/chrsbj

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