Week 50 - London Legal Support Trust

My friend Paul Stagg completed a 10k walk to raise money for the London Legal Support Trust (LLST).  They raise funds to help provide free legal advice and support throughout the South East and London for those who are otherwise unable to afford it.  The money they raise goes to legal advice centres, citizen's advice bureaux and law centres.

They have many fundraising events but the London Legal Walk is one of the biggest, where legal teams across London get together to raise money.  The first was in 2005 where 300 people took part.  This grew to 9000 people last year with £700,000 raised.  This year 618 teams took part with Paul representing his practice at 1 Chancery Lane.

Links

London Legal Support Trust
1 Chancery Lane Fundraising Page

Week 49 - Kidscape / Stonewall

This is one monumental challenge that I'm sponsoring this week.  Ben Smith grew up in boarding schools where iphe was subject to years of physical and mental bullying.  The abuse was so bad he attempted to take his own life on two occasions.  In his early thirties he came out as gay and got into running as a way of reducing stress.  He started running marathons, then decided to attempt a world record to raise money for anti-bullying charities.  He is currently 258 marathons into a challenge to run 401 in 401 consecutive days.

The two charities he is raising money for are Kidscape and Stonewall.  Kidscape was started in 1985 and works to reduce bullying among 9-16 year olds.  They provide advice to young people, parents and professionals, run anti-bullying projects in schools and assertiveness workshops for those who have been bullied along with their parents or carers.

Stonewall have been campaigning since 1989 for equal rights for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.  Among their successful campaigns are those to repeal Section 28 (which prevented schools from talking freely about homosexuality in case they were accused of "promoting" it), lifting the ban on LGB people serving in the military and securing first civil partnerships, then same-sex marriages.  In 2015 they added campaigns for trans people to their remit.

Links
The 401 Challenge
Kidscape
Stonewall

Week 48 - Refugee Action

My friend Sofia is a week away from the end of a month-long sugar famine in aid of Refugee Action.  As someone who has cut out a lot of sugar (but never actually managed to go more than two weeks without any sugar or alcohol) I know how beneficial but frustrating it is (try buying any processed food without added sugar, it's almost impossible!).

Throughout this project the plight of refugees - particularly from Syria - has been ever present in the news.  Refugee Action have been working with refugees for thirty years, helping them establish new lives in the UK.  The majority of asylum seekers arrive with little understanding of the process and Refugee Action provides support and advice to aid them.  They also campaign for justice for refugees, working with legal advisors to help them better understand the needs of asylum seekers.

Their work is absolutely vital right now in a time where millions are being displaced from their homes and running from war and persecution.  Refugee Action helps to make these refugee's a more promising future.

Links
Sofia Hogarth's JustGiving Page
Refugee Action

Week 47 - Robin House Children's Hospice

So while thousands of runners where pounding the streets of London last weekend, a friend of mine was completing his own 26 mile endeavour.  Kenny took part in the Glasgow Kiltwalk, walking from Hampden Park to Loch Lomond despite having major surgery just 10 weeks ago!

Robin House was the second hospice opened by the Children's Hospice Association of Scotland (CHAS).  The hospice houses eight children who require palliative care with their families.  They can anything from short breaks - allowing the family to relax and spend quality time together in a suitable environment - to end of life care.  CHAS also provides in home help and bereavement counselling as well as research projects into care for children with life-limiting conditions.

Links
Kenny Graham's Fundraising Page
Children's Hospice Association of Scotland