Jodie Lloyd-Jones
Jodie's 100km ultra-marathon page
Fundraising for Oxfordshire Youth
Story
I am incredibly proud to be kickstarting Oxfordshire Youth’s (OY’s) 75th year by taking on this immense physical challenge.
I have been training for 4 months and last week as I reached the peak of my training and ran 30miles, I lost two toe nails and I was broken for a few days. To think that I will be running more than double this distance in just 4 weeks time, feels me with dread, excitement and determination.
The passion, care and belief I carry for young people is unshakable, and as I'm writing this, I can see the news report telling me that in March 2022, there were the highest number of referrals for young people to mental health services, since records began. As I take on each mile, I will be thinking of the mental challenges young people have to face and overcome every day, and the ways in which we at Oxfordshire Youth can power a more rapid response to solve this crisis through preventative and early intervention youth work.
Running has been absolutely fundamental to my mental and physical health, and my resilience as a charity CEO. I am committed to delivering more opportunities to tackle the system issues causing inequality and to sourcing more investment for young people who have had less opportunities in life to succeed, to get active, to connect to a cause they are passionate about and feel part of a community that cares.
I am asking you as a friend, family member, cherished long-term supporter, and to those who are new to our work, to get behind me on this Ultra Marathon and pledge a gift that can help us reach more young people with the support and opportunities they deserve.
Those of you who know me, will understand that I am motivated every day by the unlimited belief in the power of youth work to change lives. It changed mine, and I am determined to do all I can along with the fabulous team at OY to ensure Youth Work reaches as many young people as possible.
Thank you for your belief in me, the work we do, and most importantly, the potential of young people to be the absolute best they can be. I appreciate your support and would be delighted if you could share this far and wide.