I do not like running!

Perhaps it's the memory of school cross country runs, perhaps it's the feeling that everyone is staring and judging me, perhaps it's because I don't get the feel good factor after exercise, or I/m not naturally competitive. Either way I don't like running, so I don't run.

I do like charity!

I do have a strong belief that I should use my good fortune to help whose who have been less lucky. I do get a sense of wellbeing knowing I've helped someone. 

Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF)

The MCF is the centralised charity of the Freemasons in England. What I mean by that is that while every masonic lodge around the country raises funds to help their local charities, they also support a large central fund to do the "big stuff"! Not only does the MCF help freemasons in need, it helps everyone in need! The MCF donates over £5 million a year to local and national charities, such as helping feed 65,000 people over Christmas by supporting 135 different food banks. On an international level they have given £500,000 to help Ukrainian refugees (so far), £25,000 to the red Cross to help Haiti earthquake survivors, £25,000 for the Red Cross to help in the Philippines typhoon disaster as a few examples. By having a large central fund, freemasons can respond to disasters by quickly releasing funds to where they are needed most.

All of these funds come from freemasons themselves, and a series of "festivals" where each province, every few years, goes on a fundraising drive to add a little extra. 

So, in order to help raise funds as part of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight province's 2027 festival, I have decided to challenge myself to run!

But running itself is not enough. One reason I struggle with exercise is in my mind there has to be an end goal. Running to catch a bus is fine, running just for the sake of running I can't get my head around. There is also the fact that millions of people enjoy running, and while managing to run for 5 kilometres may be an achievement for me, it isn't that special in itself, and hardly worth people's time to donate to charity.

So in order to make this more of a challenge, and to give me a practical end goal, I intend to complete . . .

THE WORLD'S LARGEST 5km INFLATABLE OBSTACLE COURSE

on Saturday 24th September 2022 at 

Somerley House, Ringwood.

Please donate whatever you can in order to make a huge difference in the lives of those in need.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/couch-to-5k-week-by-week

https://www.ukrunningevents.co.uk/events/inflatable-5k

https://mcf.org.uk