The statistics on unclean water and poor hygiene are staggering. Some 703 million people in the world (1 in 10) do not have access to clean water close to home, and 1.5 billion people (1 in 5) do not have a decent toilet of their own.

It is a difficult concept to understand from the metropolitan cities of London and Sydney, where I have lived and which are home to a combined 13 million people. Water is a resource that is obviously fundamental to life but so often taken for granted by those who have easy access to it. Whilst I have lived through strict water restrictions in Australia during the severe droughts of the 2000s, clean water almost always flowed through the taps, toilets and shower heads. It is entirely incomparable to the challenges that are faced in Mozambique, which has statistics that are worse than the world averages above. There 40% of people do not have clean water close to home, and around 65% of people do not have a decent toilet of their own.

This fundraising campaign can go some of the way to changing these statistics. For example, the £2,500 target could pay for a well with a bucket and winch to be built for a community in Mozambique. On a smaller scale, a mere £12 can pay for the installation of a properly-functioning family toilet.

On 27 April 2025, I will be taking on the challenge of the London Marathon in support of WaterAid’s important work in Mozambique. In a time where UK’s aid funding has recently been reduced to increase defence spend, it is now more important than ever to donate to charities like WaterAid. A donation of any size is very much appreciated.