On Sunday 22nd September I'll be running the Great East Run, which will be my first half marathon. I couldn't resist the challenge as it finishes at the Portman Road stadium of Ipswich Town FC, the football team I follow around the country on a fairly regular basis! 

This is a huge challenge for me, I'm a regular runner but a fairly slow one ... this is taking me way out of my comfort zone but I've done my training and I'm ready for it (I hope!).

I'm raising funds for Umbrella Brighton & Hove, the organisation I work for. Our job is to find property within the private rented sector for people who have been homeless and are currently in temporary accommodation. Our clients receive a loan to cover their deposit, and we support them both before and after they start their new tenancy. As they pay back their loan, that money is recycled into loans for new clients ... so a donation to Umbrella doesn't just benefit one person, that donation continues to work hard and benefit others over a period of time.

If you choose to support me in my challenge, your donation will go directly into the loan fund. The typical deposit for a rental property in this area is around £800, and I'd love to raise enough money to fund one deposit.

Thank you for your support