Running For 'Shelter'
- Nov 15, 2016
- 3 min read
Running for the Homeless ‘SHELTER’
This year on Christmas Eve .... 120,000 children will be homeless.
You look forward to the holidays and catching up with family and friends. You fret over the perfect gift for your loved ones. Guests eagerly await invites to your amazing lunch parties.
But many are not fortunate enough to have this warm and secure place called home.
44% of working class families are forced to cut back on food, clothing and other essentials just to pay for mortgages or rent. A sizeable number end up without a place due to forced evictions or when the landlord decides to sell it off.
Some will be doing rounds of public offices and courts to keep their home. Many children will be put up in dingy hostels with cold soup and bread.
They shouldn’t be paying the price for this housing crisis in UK. Unfortunately, unless You and I take the lead, many people – young and old, sick and disabled, working or middle class will be this winter.
That is why I am running in Virgin London Marathon 2017 to raise funds for SHELTER – an organisation helping people tackle homelessness and bad housing.
Many of you have contributed to my past marathon runs and made it a resounding success. Thanks so much to all of you.
You CAN help. You feel their pain and suffering.
Can you take a stand to make things better for those who are running out of options? Donate as little as £1 or as much as you like as every penny is appreciated.
I know that some of you have become wary of giving to charities. You don’t know if the money is being spent as promised.
SHELTER is a well-established organisation and has been around for 50 years. They are on the frontline of this campaign of affordable housing for all. They provide advice and aid to those about to lose their homes and the homeless.
In fact, they spend 79% on helping people get back on their feet, keep their old home or find permanent housing. Which leaves only 21% for fundraising and awareness activities.
I am pitching in and I hope you – my readers will lend a hand as well.
The next homeless could be someone you know …
The florist’s assistant who remembers your bouquet choices.
The middle-aged man at coffee shop who makes the perfect expresso.
In 1975 when I was born, the average cost of a house in the UK was £11,787. Today, it's shot up to £276,555. Many families in UK are forced to depend on housing support and housing board accommodation.
Honest, hardworking parents (many of them single) live in constant fear of losing their’ children’s custody – all because they’ve lost their home.
This could be your best Christmas gift to someone this year:
Give a homeless child the reason to smile.
Help that young girl to keep her rental home.
Enable the widowed pensioner walk with head held high.
Just £2 or £20 of your contribution is enough to make a difference in their lives and fill them with light, hope and fresh dreams.
P.S. The Virgin London Marathon 2017 takes place on Sunday, April 23rd. SHELTER team shall be setting off from Greenwich Park. You can donate here to this much needed cause.
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