I’m running Manchester Marathon on 27 April 2025 to raise money for Zarach, the children’s bed charity on a mission to end child bed poverty in England.

Did you know?

• 4.3 million children in the UK live in poverty

• 1 in 20 children have slept on the floor in the past year due to a lack of beds

• 900,000+ children are experiencing bed poverty, without a proper place to sleep

(Source: Zarach.org)

I remember seeing Bex, founder of Zarach, on BBC Breakfast a few years ago. She described how beds have become a luxury item for hundreds of thousands of families, with children sleeping on bean bags and sofa cushions on the floor. She explained how this, not only has a detrimental effect on their mental and physical health, but also their education – which she saw first-hand as a primary school teacher in Leeds.

That interview has stayed with me and resonates even more now I’m a parent myself, which is why I’ve chosen to run for Zarach.

You can watch the BBC interview here.

A bed bundle costs £150 and includes a bed frame, mattress, bedding and pyjamas. I’m hoping to raise £1,500, enough for 10 bed bundles.

Please donate whatever you can afford to this incredibly important charity and let’s help end child bed poverty.

See you at the finish line. The question is: Can I beat my time of 3:55? Stay tuned.