Running Brighton Marathon In Memory of Cecily

In 1997, my school friend Cecily was in a motor vehicle accident whilst on her Gap year in Zambia. The tyre of the van she was in burst as it hit a pothole and it crashed, killing her. It's a parent's worst nightmare. She was only 19 and about to go to Cambridge University.

In 1998, her parents Basil and Alison Eastwood set up Cecily's Fund to help keep her memory alive with the work she was doing, helping orphaned children and teaching at a school in Kitwe.

She was a force of nature and had a real passion for making a difference in the world. She was unafraid to use her voice for good.

In a months time, I'll be running the Brighton Marathon in her memory. Whilst we were never very close, we shared the same interests at school both in sports and in music and I feel this marathon is a fitting tribute to her. She was a good person.

I know there are people who knew Cecily far better than I did and I was fortunate enough to spend a day with them last year as we tried to revive her memorial garden at school. It was lovely to be doing something positive in the memory of someone so loved and this is my personal contribution to that.

Marathon's are not easy but going the distance is nothing when compared to the lives of those Cecily's Fund is supporting. The training has been intense as I run 5 days a week and I hurt each time I lace up my running shoes, but I keep doing it because it's the small consistent actions that matter most. And we can all do hard things.

Cecily's Fund was set up initially to help the 1 in 5 children that are orphaned by HIV and AIDS. Many were left alone to cope as child-headed households and the poorest children were not able to attend school, because education was not free.

Central to Cecily's Fund ethos is that access to education can be a route out of poverty, providing greater opportunities and life skills to help improve futures. Initially they helped orphans and vulnerable children in Kitwe and Lusaka go to school by contributing to school fees and providing practical support with books, shoes, and uniforms. Now, their work includes strengthening the communities where children live. They develop and implement programmes that support children from early years through to young adulthood and work with mothers and carers to improve livelihoods through education, training, business development, health, and youth citizenship.

Cecily’s Fund’s youth-led approach to development, helps children and young people to develop as individuals and contribute to Zambia’s future. Through education, training, life-skills and strengthening communities, they are able to provide sustainable solutions that help lead the way out of poverty, empowering young people and communities to build better futures.

Your donations will not only help support an wonderful charity doing great work, but also remember an extraordinary young woman and help get me across that finish line on the 6th April.

Please help and donate. For Cecily.

Thank you.