My name is Patrick Pretorius and I'm running the full length of the Essex Way hiking trail, which is 83 miles, to raise funds and awareness for Lads Need Dads.
Current statistics show that a teenager sitting their GCSEs is more likely to own a smartphone than live with their dad. The concerning issue is research also shows young boys who grow up without a father, or access to a male role model, may struggle as teenagers and are at a higher risk of low self-esteem, dropping out of education, antisocial behaviour, substance abuse and crime.
Lads need Dads aim is to:
'Empower and enable boys age 11-15 with absent fathers or limited access to a male role model, to be motivated, responsible, capable, resilient and emotionally competent to PREVENT them from becoming at risk of under achieving, offending, exclusion or dropping out of school.'
Lads Need Dads is managed by a team of highly experienced Directors who have a background in Education, Criminal Justice, and Health and Social Care.
This is a problem we can no longer run away from, but that we need to face head on, so I'm running straight for it. Please follow and support my journey on Facebook or Twitter @PatPsyched #LNDRELAY #runningforalad #runningfordad
