I've done a couple of park runs.

Those of you who know me well will know that selection to run the London Marathon via the ballot was not necessarily something I'd given much thought to, nor is it comparable to anything I've ever done before. However, I think it's a great opportunity to test myself and raise money and awareness for a good cause. I'm raising money for Emmaus Salford, a charity which supports people to rebuild their lives after becoming homeless.

The issue of homelessness, fuel poverty and increased dependency on food banks are a very topical issue at present - and rightly so. So often carelessly overlooked by those in power, the burden to support those who find themselves in these difficult situations largely falls on the charity sector. 

With a branch situated close to where I live and work in Salford, Emmaus is a charity which operates nationwide and offers enduring support to address the immediate and long term symptoms of homelessness. This means not just offering food and shelter but also helping tackle the other underlying factors which contributed to a person's homelessness.