Story
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
EDITED 10/08/2020: Please do still read my original story below, because it tells you so much about why I decided to run the London Marathon this year, for both of our 40th years. However as COVID-19 has done to so much of our lives, the best laid plans have been hugely disrupted, health inequalities hugely widened and now instead of running a London Marathon, I will take up the ability to do a virtual marathon over Sunday 4th October.
I will be starting on Friday 2nd October, and will cover over double the distance in total, arriving on the Sunday on Greenham Common in Newbury - the site of the refugee camp my dad stayed in for 6 months when he first arrived in our beautiful, inclusive country in 1972.
He arrived at a time which feels familiar to now in some ways - toxic and diversive. BUT I believe we can show what we are really made of, by supporting those who support others.
The charitable sector has undergone a huge hit this year, and every penny really does help this incredible charity. Please support this incredible cause by:
🏃🏾♀️ Donating any amount you can spare through this site
🏃🏾♀️ Help fundraise with me by sending me a message
🏃🏾♀️ Choose to walk part of it alongside me, in solidarity with refugees and to show that we are a welcome country, with open arms
Nikki
*****
In 2020, I will be 40 years old and that seems like a good time to do something I never thought I would attempt - running the London Marathon on its 40th anniversary! - for a truly inspiring and relevant cause. I’m not a natural runner and I’ve never done anything like this...
I’ve been lucky to grow up in this beautiful city, to become a doctor and work for the NHS. My dad came here as a refugee in 1972 and my mum as an economic migrant. Somehow they found each other and gave my sister and I incredible opportunities to learn and grow.
Not all people are as fortunate as we have been. Access to our health services for excluded groups, such as refugees and migrants, is often challenging and for this reason I am proud to run the marathon and raise money for Doctors of the World.
Doctors of the World is an independent humanitarian movement working at home and abroad to empower excluded people to access healthcare.
Through 400 programmes in 80 countries run by more than 3,000 volunteers they provide medical care, strengthen health systems and address underlying barriers to healthcare.
And they share skills and training locally so communities stay strong in the long term.
They also strive to give a voice to the most marginalised, reporting on violence, injustice and unmet health needs wherever they find them.
Their vision is a world without barriers to health, where healthcare is recognised as a fundamental right - I could not be more proud to run for them, so please give whatever you can afford to.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.