On the 6th of October on an autumnal Sunday (or summery, or wintery, we can no longer predict seasons it appears – dress for all weathers) the Royal Parks Half Marathon will be taking place. The half marathon is very popular, due to its course featuring some of the best parkland London has to offer.
This year a charity very close to the Funny Women team’s heart, Refuge, is hoping to form the biggest team to date entering the marathon. The charity has set the goal of raising over £50,000 to help Refuge continue to provide support to vulnerable women.
All those on Refuge’s half marathon have pledged to raise a minimum of £420 by donning their running shoes and running (or walking!) through 4 of London’s Royal Parks. Those on the marathon – provided they aren’t out of breath – can enjoy views of Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.
The Refuge running team will be given a T-shirt, a running pack containing nutritional information, training plan and fundraising advice. Refuge have even put on a free online fundraising page page and are offering one-to-one support from the Refuge team.
This hard work is because: “All funds raised through this event will make a real difference to our vital work, helping us to support women and children to escape domestic violence and rebuild their lives free from fear.”
The statistics are shocking, one in four women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives. Every single week two women are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales. Thirty women a day attempt suicide to escape domestic violence. Every 60 seconds a domestic violence related call is made to the police.
“Raising the essential funds Refuge need to ensure the continuation of our vital frontline services to abused women and children is becoming increasingly difficult. The women’s sector is, subsequently, one of the most impoverished of all charitable sectors: in 2009 The Donkey Sanctuary received £20 million in voluntary donations; in comparison, Refuge received £1.7 million.”
If you would like to help raise more funds for Refuge you can join the Refuge Royal Parks Half Marathon team please e-mail jessica_madeley@refuge.org.uk
