After hearing stories of sexual harassment, violence and abuse in the wake of Sarah Everard's murder I want to stand against these injustices. As a man I can never fully understand how women feel but I know that it is unacceptable for the streets they live and walk on to be dangerous every day of their lives. We cannot continue like this and as a society we all have a responsibility to do everything we can to make a change and contribute to a safer community to those around us.

I stand as an ally in solidarity to end violence, harassment and abuse against women. To support this I am running 105 miles (the equivalent of 4 marathons) in the month of May. I am asking for donations to Rosa. Their aim is to fund a diverse range of women’s organisations each working to tackle the issues of our time. Their work falls under four pillars that make up a movement for social change:

Safety

All women and girls have the right to live free from violence and the threat of violence.

A quarter of women in the UK will be affected by domestic abuse at some point in their lives, and recorded rapes have more than doubled in the past six years. Safety for women in the UK is clearly a huge issue, and it’s even more profound for marginalised groups like BAME women, disabled women, and migrant women. We invest in organisations that work to make the UK safer for women – whether that’s by providing refuges, legal advice for victims of sexual harassment, and everything in between.

Leadership & Representation

More women should hold positions of leadership and decision-making in the UK.

Women are still routinely excluded from politics and public life. Only 28.6% of executive leadership roles in the uk’s FTSE 100 companies are women, and in 2019 women made up just 32% of MPs in the House of Commons. We invest in organisations that work to remove the barriers preventing women from participating in public life, and encourage their equal representation in politics, economics, media, and more.

Health & Wellbeing

All women and girls should feel good about themselves – and be able to get the help and healthcare they need.

Around one in five women experience a common mental health problem like anxiety. Many of the UK’s most vulnerable women face a cross-section of disadvantages, including homelessness, alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and low self-esteem. We invest in organisations working to tackle these issues – whether that’s by raising awareness or support groups that reach the most vulnerable groups.

Economic Justice

All women in the UK should have the opportunity for economic stability and success in their lives.

A quarter of UK companies and public sector bodies have a pay gap of more than 20% in favour of men, and one in three flexible work requests are turned down. That’s down to a lack of flexible working options, part-time work in low-paying sectors, and women doing a disproportionate amount of unpaid work, among other factors. We invest in organisations that work to level the playing field for women in the workplace, and pay particular attention to women and girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.

I am hoping the money I raise can support women's charities in these areas but most of all make an active stand to make women feel safe in the streets they live now and always.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page and any donations, big or small make a huge difference.