MARATHON 2020 – do it your way?

As the world continues to grapple with the effects of COVID-19, the work of FI keeps going, adapting wherever possible to keep supporting those who need a helping hand.

Social distancing is in place for all of us, as a tool to keep communities safe from the virus.

In Romania schools are closed until September, but small groups can begin to meet again from 15th May. The top priorities for FI during the summer months are:

  • Adapting support mechanisms so that vulnerable children, young people and adults affected by addictions and mental health problems can still access the support they rely on from FI
  • Supporting those members of our communities who find themselves without the basic levels of income needed to feed themselves and their families. As always, it is the poorest who are hardest hit. Those who relied on casual labour and poorly paid manual work have seen their income streams disappear. Food parcels funded through emergency donations have become a lifeline.

For FI’s supporters COVID-19 measures have meant that some of our fundraising efforts have been interrupted – there are no marathons to take part in for the foreseeable future. The virus also means that our funding sources are less secure than ever as so many people are forced to look carefully at their finances.

You can help. Join us to raise awareness or funds – or both - and tell us how you plan to do it. We use give.net for online fundraising because this is the charity that deals with all of our giftaid and so there are no extra charges for managing donations through the site. You could use my page which is here give.net/ibelieve or you could set up your own.

My alternative marathon plan is in the comments below. Share yours there too.

8 Comments

  1. Susannah on May 10, 2020 at 6:01 pm

    I’m doing a four day marathon from 28th – 31st. Hopefully not taking the full four days to cover the distance, but a quarter marathon per day for four days. It’s in place of the full marathon which would have been 24th May up here in Edinburgh. Anyone out there want to join me, either physically (from a 2m distance of course) or just running at the same times across those four days? Sponsorship at give.net/ibelieve



  2. Kat Whigham on May 10, 2020 at 6:48 pm

    I will do a mile each day for 26 days (plus the extra) Please check out sponsorship at give.net/I believe
    Running around in the outskirts of Edinburgh where nobody else ventures!



  3. Jason on May 12, 2020 at 6:25 am

    I will be doing 2 marathons this month. One for our work and one for FI. Hoping to get past 60 miles so need to get a jog on! X



    • Susannah on May 12, 2020 at 1:01 pm

      You’re amazing. Keep us up to date on your progress x



  4. Francis Peter on May 12, 2020 at 7:40 pm

    Here’s an idea for anyone to take part in a marathon.
    As we are all out exercising these days – walking or cycling at a distance – how about separated groups of 26 people (plus a child to make the extra bit) from churches or schools or workplaces committing to walk one mile-a-day for 26 days (or however long we are locked down) for £1 a mile. That way we do 26 marathons a month and raise lots of money. Put it in an old yoghurt pot at a £1 a day and we will never notice it – then send it to FI later.
    Of course if we walked 2 miles a day for FI that would be £2, even better.
    So if 26 groups of 26 people walked 26 miles and 26 people sponsored them £1 a mile….



  5. Emna on May 16, 2020 at 8:21 am

    My 15 year old son and I are going to run a mile per day for 26 days.
    I can’t run a mile, so this will be a challenge!



    • Susannah Collins on May 17, 2020 at 10:01 am

      Hurrah – thanks Emma. Perhaps we could meet up (2m apart of course) and do some of those miles together…