My Story

So... why has someone who's never ran a day in her life, signed up for the London Marathon? Please do read all of the below, the work Action for Children do really is so important & is incredibly close to my heart... 

Impulsively I applied for the London Marathon after watching it on TV, despite having never even been for a run before & exercise being put on the back burner after having my 2 boys, but it looked like the best part of humanity, everyone pulling together & so many running for a charity important to them. I started to think who I'd like to run for, should I get a ballot place, it was obvious to me the type of charity I'd like to run for & it didn't take me long to find Action for Children & all the incredible work they do. I didn't get a ballot place but I was incredibly lucky to get a charity place with Action for children. Their vision resonated with me, that every child and young person has a safe and happy childhood.

On the 2nd February 1998, at 5 years old I stood infront of a judge alongside my sister and told them that I choose the parents I know was born into this life to have, just as they chose me. Myself & Amy were adopted that day & if you know my mum & dad you'll agree, by two of the kindest, warm & loving people you could ever choose to meet, a happy ever after for a little girl who had found herself in the care system after a tough start of neglect & an unstable home. A day I will never forget.

Whilst my start may have not been easy & I certainly still to this day struggle with some of the trauma of it, especially since having my own children. I also feel incredibly lucky & priveledged to have the family I do & to share such an incredible story among us, unfortunately my happy ending is not the case for many many children in the UK. 

Action for Children run fostering services across the UK, every year helping hundreds of children in need find a safe and loving foster home. Children and young people in care have had lots of different experiences. Many have been rejected or experienced something traumatic. Action for Children offer homes for children and young people who have experienced neglect, abuse and trauma. Action for Children also aid with adoption, there are thousands of children in the UK at the moment, just as I was, wishing for a loving home.  

Right now, millions of UK children are living in poverty. And the cost-of-living crisis has made children even more vulnerable. Action for Children is a vital lifeline for families. Their Crisis Fund pays for essentials like food, clothes and heating bills in times of crisis. There is so much more work also being done by this amazing charity with regards to mental health & work within the community. 

Last year Action for Children helped 671,000 children, young people and families. With your support, even more children can have a safe and happy childhood. 

Thank you for reading! I really hope to raise as much as I can as I take on the challenge of going from non runner to marathon runner (while training through the winter!) If you can spare anything to donate I & every child in need across the UK will be so so grateful, Kayleigh xxx