I am running the London Marathon in April 2017 in support of Oxfam and its work to fight poverty across the world.
After raising over £1,000 for Oxfam at the 2015 Berlin marathon, I was left humbled by the generosity of friends and colleagues.
Most importantly, the support and encouragement I received along the way underlined how important Oxfam’s work is to many of you.
That’s why I decided to use the 2017 London marathon to try and raise twice as much and possibly more! £2,000 is a lot of money and this will likely be more difficult to achieve than running 26.2 miles.
I know and I hope I’ll be able to count on my friends again to do this.
In the end though, nothing I or we could do is harder and more necessary that the work that Oxfam workers and volunteers carry out every day around the world.
Oxfam is not simply using charity to relieve populations of the consequences of poverty and disease. It seeks lasting solutions that will empower local populations and give them the means to secure a future free of poverty.
Oxfam uses a combination of rights-based sustainable development programs, public education, campaigns, advocacy, and humanitarian assistance in disasters and conflicts.
Oxfam challenges the structural causes of the injustice of poverty, and works with allies and partners locally and globally.
Like Oxfam workers and supporters, I believe everyone has a right to realize their potential, and to live free of poverty in a secure and more equitable world. We believe that with the necessary action and political will, this world is possible.
People have a right to life and security; to a sustainable livelihood; to be heard; to have an identity; and to have access to basic social services.
In poverty, people have little power and are denied an effective voice. Poverty means little income, too few assets, lack of access to basic services and opportunities, deep inequalities, ongoing insecurity and little opportunity for development.
Poverty is rooted in inequality, and in human action or inaction. It can be worsened by natural disasters, human violence, oppression and environmental damage, and maintained by institutions and economic means.
Women and girls are often the most oppressed by poverty; their needs and rights must be central to eliminating it.
We face unprecedented changes and challenges this century, including climate change, famines and food price crises, increasing humanitarian crises, energy limitations, proliferation of weapons, urbanization, and natural resources shortages. To meet these challenges, we need global co-operation and cohesion.
Governments should be accountable to their people, and all society’s institutions –corporations, organizations and groups including us – should be accountable for the impact of their actions.
In the next few months, I will be training to run another marathon to raise money for Oxfam. I hope you will help me reach and exceed my fundraising target.
I will you posted on my progress and on Oxfam’s work around the world.
You can sponsor my marathon, any or all the training races I will be doing before April 2017; you can even sponsor every single mile or kilometer I will running until then.
You can write a big fat cheque or send a couple of coins.
Whatever you do will be tremendously helpful and will serve a great cause and an awesome organization!
Please visit my fundraising page: http://tinyurl.com/zpvo54g
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.
