Barney's London Marathon 2017

On April 23rd I'm running the London Marathon and raising money for The Avenues. It's a cause that's close to my heart, not only because I have my own teenagers at home and know how important it is for young people to get a good start in life. But also because this youth project is based near where I went to school. Some of my class mates lived on The Mozart Estate and I've seen what a tough place it is to grow up. More about the charity: The Avenues Youth project helps children aged 8-19 through after-school and holiday activities that broaden their horizons, build their confidence and develop social skills. The charity was established 1979 to provide a way out of poverty for children in one of the poorest parts of London. Today The Avenues Youth Project has a new purpose-built facility boasting training kitchen, music recording studios, dance studio, design and tech lab and much more. The 700 or so members are encouraged to take part in fun activities each with a deliberate learning outcome. Despite unprecedented cuts to public funding The Avenues Youth Project represents a beacon of hope for young people and your support will enable the Charity to offer a brighter future for deserving children who might otherwise be left behind. Several of the Avenues Youth Project members who have gone on to achieve great things have chosen The Avenues Youth Project as a way of giving back – Eartha who is now a deputy principal at a London secondary school and plays for Tottenham Hotspur Women’s is now serving on the Board of Trustees of the Avenues; another, Ethan, came up through our judo dojo and along with several from the Avenues went on to compete for Great Britain - Ethan now coaches the kids at Avenues Youth Project.