On 13th July 2025 I'll be running my second half marathon (Run Melbourne) in aid of Copts in Need, a cause very special to me and a service which myself and my family have been directly involved with. Every donation towards this very worthy cause will make a big difference. Last time we raised £2000/$4000 and I am confident this time we will match or exceed this target!

CIN work with 4 main aims/projects currently:

1. Housing and construction - thousands of families in rural Egypt live in inadequate housing and shelters. Copts In Need works to transform their mud huts in brick houses, building roofs over their heads and providing adequate sanitation and water/electricity supply. Since its establishment in 2010, CIN has constructed and developed 3,500 houses and 300 roofs at a total cost of over £5,000,000.

2. Micro-Finance Projects - CIN provides financial and technical support for individuals who are keen to start their new businesses or a craft project. This ensures more sustainable incomes for their families and eradicate their poverty. So far we’ve helped 2,350 individuals & families to start their own business. This is achieved by means of an interest-free loan

3. Child Development Programme - this is an initiave through which Copts In Need supports children over a 10 year period (ages 7-17) with educational, physical, social and spiritual development needs

4. Healthcare - Eyes of Assiut & Palliative care - From our experience over the years of working in Upper Egypt, CIN has noticed a high prevalence of visual impairment and blindness amongst the region’s population, particularly among women. Cataract, in particular, is known to affect at least one-quarter of the region’s population. These data are backed by several studies. To combat visual impairment and in collaboration with the Diocese of Assiut, CIN developed an eye specialist hospital in the Abnoub district that aims to provide treatment to patients with eye diseases in Upper Egypt. The site has multiple consultation rooms and operating theatres equipped with the latest high-tech medical equipments. Training is provided by highly qualified ophthalmology consultants from the UK who train Egyptian ophthalmologists and nurses. Copts In Need also supports terminally ill cancer patients with palliative care services.

Every donation counts! Your donation will go directly towards sponsoring a child, building a home for a family, finance a micro-project, or towards medical treatment of eye diseases or for terminally ill cancer patients.

For more information, please visit their website: https://coptsinneed.org

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqWD3GlVojI