Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I have been extremely lucky to secure a ballot place to run the London Marathon in 2025. This will be my second marathon, after running it back in 2019 for Barnardo's.

Come marathon day, I'll be into my 10th year with Barnardo's. Seeing the impact of poverty, disadvantage and challenge that families continue to face on a daily basis is the reason I am fundraising.

Barnardo's offer crucial support and intervention to families to achieve positive change and improve the outcomes for the whole family. Since Covid, we have had to change our response as most families are at crisis, living in significant poverty and reaching a point of family breakdown. The teams have worked tirelessly with innovation and determination to improve the lives of children, young people and their families.

In 2022-23, Barnardo's reached 373,200 people across the UK, with 61 services and partnerships being delivered across Wales.

In October 2022, a Crisis Fund was set up to help provide immediate support to children and families who were struggling as a result of the cost-of living crisis.

Across the UK, 13,000 people have benefitted from the fund. Locally, in Cwm Taf where the services I manage are delivered we have accessed nearly £20,000 of crisis funding, with over half of the funding being spent to increase the safety of children in their own homes. This unveiled a 'bed-poverty' where significant numbers of families have not had beds to sleep in, or have been sleeping in broken beds or co-sleeping on one mattress.

The depths of poverty that families are living in is extremely concerning and needs immediate action. Deciding whether you can afford to turn the oven on to feed your children or having to reside within one room of your house to limit electricity use is no way to live, and will not provide the opportunity for children to thrive. Whilst at Barnardo's, we advocate for change every day, I do not have the power to tackle this huge issue alone. But, I can run a marathon and fundraise to continue the Barnardo's Crisis Fund in Wales.

So please help me by donating whatever you can. Every pound makes a difference to a child's life.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.