I'm running 150km this November to support CAFOD's work. 

I had initially planned to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon to support the World Food Crisis appeal but, alas, poor health prevented that from going ahead. You can find out more about the food crisis here: https://cafod.org.uk/Give/Donate-to-Emergencies/World-Food-Crisis-Appeal

"Why 150km?" I hear you ask? It's 5km per day, which is a challenge, but not so much of a challenge that it will require more surgery or emergency asthma medication (I hope!) 

"Why CAFOD?" Well, CAFOD is the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. As you probably know, I'm Catholic. And I care deeply about development (for love of neighbour out of love of God), which the 'Compendium for the Social Doctrine of the Church' tells us is a requirement for peace. 

CAFOD works with people of all faiths and none and is part of one of the largest aid networks in the world (working in 165 countries and territories), meaning they can help people in remote areas, in war zones and who are discriminated against. CAFOD works in partnership with local communities and experts (who know their own contexts far better than we do) and are committed to decolonising aid. 

In 2022, CAFOD has provided emergency assistance in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (Слава Ісусу Христу! Слава Україні! Героям слава!), the floods in Pakistan, and the ongoing crises in Yemen and Afghanistan. CAFOD also supports countless other projects throughout the world in areas such as education, healthcare, psychological support, workers' rights and training, supporting refugees, women's empowerment, farming, and many environmental and sustainability projects. I am aware that this may all seem quite buzzwordy, but it's wonderful work. 

Here's an unexpected (?) project that they supported, which can teach us a lot in the West: https://vimeo.com/351159071 

I can speak at great length about CAFOD's work, so if you would like to hear more please grab me, and if you have heard enough I'll stop here and say no more.

Thank you for your time and donations! 

Sophia

p.s. Thank you to Julia Corcoran for unwittingly being the default header image for this page which I can't bear to change.