Sarah's London Marathon Challenge

In April I will be running my first ever marathon for The Avenues Youth project. Having never run a marathon before, my spontaneous decision to accept the office's offer of a place running the 2017 London Marathon suddenly seems a little hasty and very daunting. From joining up I had 14 weeks to prepare for the trails and tribulations of marathon running. 26 miles have never seemed so long. Fortunately the cause I will raise money for is well worth the pain, aching joints and inevitable blisters. More about 'The Avenues Youth Project': 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 in 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. Several of our members who have gone on to achive great things have chosen Avenues 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. 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.