On August 23rd, I’ll be running my 29th marathon in Chichester, West Sussex. This week’s cause is one many young people silently endure—bullying. I’m running in support of Kidscape, a charity that stands up for children facing fear, isolation, and abuse from their peers. This marathon is for every child who’s ever felt unsafe just being themselves.

The What:

Bullying isn’t “just part of growing up.” It’s a sustained form of emotional, physical, or psychological harm, often targeting a child’s appearance, identity, disability, or background. In schools, online, or even at home, bullying can leave deep scars. It causes anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and tragically, can lead some young people to take their own lives. Children don’t just need to survive bullying—they need help to recover and thrive beyond it.

The why:

Because bullying steals childhoods. It shapes how a child sees themselves and their place in the world. I’m lucky to say I’ve never really experienced bullying myself but I still know multiple people who’ve carried the pain of bullying into adulthood, and with parents who’ve felt powerless watching their child break down day after day, it’s a subject that touches me. I’m running to raise a voice for those who have been silenced—and to help build a future where no child feels worthless, afraid, or alone.

What is Kidscape and What Do They Do?

Kidscape is a national charity that equips children, families, and schools with the tools to prevent bullying and tackle it head-on. Their work includes confidence-building workshops, anti-bullying programmes in schools, and direct support to victims. They help children recognise their own self-worth, give them strategies to stay safe, and support adults in knowing how to intervene effectively. Kidscape’s message is clear: every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and celebrated.

Your donation directly changes lives:

• £10 provides resources to a child learning how to stand up for themselves.

• £25 funds anti-bullying training for teachers or youth leaders.

• £50 covers a place for a young person at a confidence-building workshop.

• £100 allows a whole family to attend a support session with tailored advice and emotional care.

As I run Marathon 29 in Chichester, I want to drill the stories of children whose days are filled with fear instead of joy into my head. Please support Kidscape, and help children be free to grow and belong.