Hello, and thank you for visiting my fundraising page!
I’m back again this year to attempt my second 26.2 mile plod through the 5 Boros of New York City! Last year I was able to finish with a slow and steady 4:52. This year, my goal is simply to not keel over somewhere in The Bronx….and also mainly to raise some much needed funds and awareness for a cause that’s super important to me: Dyslexia.
Then a few months later (dodgy old joints permitting) my goal is to go on and run in my first hometown Marathon in London in April 2026!
I’m running these races to support two small but mighty charities. They do amazing work supporting children and young people - helping them learn to read, access services, and overcome barriers caused by their dyslexia.
As many of you know, my youngest son George is severely dyslexic and he continues to work very hard to overcome the everyday challenges this disability poses. For those that have followed his journey a little bit, George is doing brilliantly, and he’s now reading very well thanks to the amazing help he received from one of the charities I am supporting. The impact of dyslexia often goes beyond just a difficulty with reading and writing, and for millions of people like George, everyday things can pose a hurdle.
The latest research shows that around 1 in 5 people have some level of dyslexia, yet despite this, it’s still relatively undiagnosed and definitely misunderstood within everyday society. There are many many thousands of children who don’t get the reading help and intervention they need, yet early and appropriate intervention is absolutely crucial to helping young people succeed in their education and beyond. It is estimated that around 30% of students with dyslexia or other learning disabilities who don’t get the right help in time will drop out of high school.
Some of you reading this may remember that in 2021, George walked 50 miles in support of the Children’s Dyslexia Center of NJ, the amazing team who taught him how to read over a period of three years. As a result of your kind and generous support, he was able to raise $5,500, enabling the CDC to fund the costs of teaching another child to read, which was George’s goal. We were so grateful for your support!
Whilst I know I’m not in the same fundraising league as Georgie, I’m hoping to raise some much needed funds and to give back to two very special charities: The Children’s Dyslexia Center of New Jersey, and The Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, who support people with dyslexia to bring about positive change in their lives. They offer advice, help, and tuition to children, parents, educators, and employers and they truly do amazing work at a grassroots level.
You can learn more about both charities here:
Thank you so much for reading this far! And please know that ANY amount you are able to donate truly will be gratefully received, and hugely appreciated. It will make a big difference to both of these small but mighty charities.
THANK YOU! C x