Firefly International is a small charity that makes a huge difference to children's lives. Working with local partners, Firefly supports children affected by war and conflict.

Currently Firefly supports three projects. The largest project is in Syria and Turkey for Syrian refugee children. Secondly, Firefly continues to work in Bosnia, a project which started nearly 30 years ago in the aftermath of the Yugoslavian civil war and is still working today to bring together children from the three ethnic groups. The newest project is in Cairo for Palestinian refugee children fleeing from the conflict in Gaza.

Firefly enables thousands of children each month to learn and thrive even in the most challenging of circumstances. The programmes are designed to address the trauma children have experienced in war zones and classes are therapeutic as well as educational.

In June 2025 I will turn 70 and I have decided to run this half marathon. I have chosen to raise money for Firefly because watching the effect of war on children in Gaza and imagining my own grandsons being in a situation like that really brought home to me the horror for families living there. It will be a big challenge but I feel the cause deserves it!