Story
8th April 2021: Well! For my sins I have rashly signed up to run my third consecutive "Oxford Half Marathon" which is due to take place on Sunday 17th October.
After running the first "Oxford Half" in Malawi instead of Oxford (because of work) and running last year's "Not the Oxford Half Marathon" by myself and "virtually" because of COVID19, it's just possible that this year will be run in the more traditional style with roads closed and lots of people tripping over each other around Oxford itself. Who knows what the situation will be by October.
Right now, despite the cold weather, I am seeing way more people out running which is an interesting change. We'll see how whether that trend persists if and when we get back to anywhere resembling 'normal'.
29/09/20: thanks to everyone who has already contributed: such generosity! But don't stop now! As the strange COVID-times continue and as the days shorten, I am conscious of the privilege of being able to get out and run...even if the mornings are getting darker and colder! Take care, everyone! Dave
28/08/20: Thank you for visiting my page. I am fundraising for a wonderful local charity that supports refugees and asylum seekers via counselling and psychotherapy, mentoring, specialist services for women and young people, advice and advocacy support, and training - and has continued to do so throughout the pandemic.
Refugee Resource is unique in being the only dedicated refugee therapy service in Oxfordshire, offering long-term, tailored support to promote peoples mental health and well-being. This has been more crucial than ever during the coronavirus pandemic.These are resilient people, many of whom have experienced unimaginable trauma and have seen major disruptions in their life. Being forced to flee everything they knew (country, language, culture and often their entire family) to seek safety, many have faced the lockdown far away from loved ones.
As the official Oxford Half Marathon has been cancelled I am running my own "Not the Oxford Half Marathon" on 11th October that will be timed and mapped on an app. Any donation - however small - will mean a huge amount to me, and to Refugee Resource. Please consider supporting and sharing their work.