On Sunday 2^nd April 2023 I will be running The
London Landmarks Half Marathon for Buckinghamshire’s oldest and largest
advice charity Citizens Advice Bucks.

In 2022 Citizens Advice Bucks helped 12,000 people
across Buckinghamshire caught up in the cost-of-living crisis.  A team of
90 expert volunteer advisers worked tirelessly with people across the county to
offer free advice on debt, rent arrears, benefits and direct crisis
support. 

Donations to the charity meant that they could help
vulnerable people across Buckinghamshire with their advice.  People like
Anja* who escaped with her baby daughter to a shelter after experiencing
domestic violence.   Citizens Advice Bucks successfully helped Anja
with her application for child benefit, meaning that she could afford to feed
her family and buy essential uniform.  Anja’s words illustrate the impact
of every donation received by Citizens Advice Bucks….

“Thank you very much. I received a backdated benefit of
£650, the first pay check where I could buy uniforms. Your help is
indescribable. Tears of happiness flowed from me.”

In 2023 the current crisis
will push many more in Buckinghamshire below the UK poverty line and thousands
will face eviction, hunger and crippling energy bills.  More families in
Buckinghamshire will be unable to afford to heat their homes, feed their children
regularly, or buy the fuel they need to drive their car to work.  The
situation will push some to the brink.  Demand for Citizens Advice
Bucks will be greater than ever, yet it will continue to advise people
through the crisis, empowering those facing challenges and directly supporting
those that can’t. 

I know that Citizens Advice
Bucks will turn lives around with their free and expert advice and that’s
why I’m running for them.  Every donation, no matter how small has the
power to help thousands of people across Buckinghamshire and that will keep me
going for all 13 and a bit miles!

*name changed