Due to a family bereavement I am unable to run in the Great North Run I will run a half marathon with my son next Sunday instead. Thank you for your understanding at this difficult time.Please sponsor me!You will be helping people like Maria:Maria lives on the outskirts of a small town in north eastern Brazil. As a single mother, she has often struggled to make ends meet. Several years ago, along with 12 other women from her community, Maria turned a small patch of disused dumping ground into a profitable vegetable garden.The state of Piau (where Maria lives) in north east Brazil is one of the poorest regions in the country. Piau is very sunny which means the state has massive potential for solar energy production. However, because of the high costs involved, rural communities often have limited access to this energy.Our partner Caritas Brazil are promoting a new energy system that will ensure sustainable energy for poor communities which doesn't harm the environment.