My 14th marathon out of the 52 and the first of the new month will be in the county of Cheshire, running for Crisis in support of the reduction of homelessness.

What?

You reading this now have most likely to got a stable roof over your head, a warm bed and a private space and won’t ever have to worry about these issues. However, these being taken away from our lives can happen to anyone: a job loss, an unexpected bill, or a personal crisis can quickly spiral into losing a roof over your head. In the UK, over 300,000 people are experiencing homelessness, that’s 1 in 208 people and over 130,000 of those are children, behind each of these statistics is a person struggling to find their way back to security.

Why?

Because no one should have to sleep on the streets, homelessness doesn’t just affect a person’s present—it impacts their future. Without a stable address, it’s almost impossible to find work, access healthcare, or rebuild a life. The longer someone is homeless, the harder it is to escape. But lives can be changed, raising money towards an organisation with great expertise on the handing of such issues can get people the help they need.

How?

Crisis is a national charity dedicated to ending homelessness. They don’t just provide immediate relief like shelter and hot meals—they go further, helping people find permanent housing, employment, and support services to break the cycle of homelessness for good. Their work is built on the belief that homelessness isn’t inevitable, and with the right support, anyone can rebuild their life.

Every donation, no matter the size, can change a life:

£10 can provide a warm meal and essential supplies for someone sleeping rough.

£30 can fund one-on-one support to help a person find permanent housing.

£100 can contribute to training programs that help someone gain employment and stability.

£250 can support someone through Crisis’ year-long services, giving them the best chance at a fresh start.

As I take on marathon #14 here in Chester, I’m running for those who don’t have a place to call home. Homelessness is not a choice, but, we can be part of the solution. Your donation could be the key that unlocks a brighter future for someone in crisis. Donate but if you can’t, next time you see a unhoused person on the street, get them some food and refer them to local services so they can get the help the need.