A GROUP of six runners raced to the finish line in this year’s Reading Half marathon, to support a worthy cause.
Home-Start Reading, a charity which supports families through difficult times across the borough, saw the individuals raise over £1,500 between them to put towards its services in the community.
The charity’s aim is to help build parents confidence and resilience, giving children the chance of a more secure future.
Runner Amanda Phillips-Wylds, from Stowe Family Law, said it was great to see the event back and well supported.
“I’m a local family lawyer and I see first-hand the impact relationship breakdown, domestic abuse, and mental ill-health has on children and families,” she said.
“I was looking for a charity whose focus was on helping families going through these tough challenges and Home-Start Reading fitted the bill perfectly.”
Ms Phillips-Wylds added it was good to be playing a small part in the organisation’s work.
“Having had to take a break from running due to long covid, I’m hoping to get my running mojo back and start running full marathons again,” she said.
“But I would definitely keep up the halves as they are much nicer distance.”
And founder partner at Drive UK Consulting, Anna Vorster, also ran Reading Half to support the charity.
“I only signed up to run six weeks before the day,” she said.
“I had to increase my miles quickly and had lots of help from my two dogs who run with me on a hip belt.”
Ms Vorster added: “I was nervous about what it would be like to run without the help of my trusted doggie friends but the crowds and bands on the route kept me going.”
Home-Start Reading’s new communications and fundraising co-ordinator, Kathryn McCann, said she is grateful to the runners who supported the charity.
“Between them they have already raised more than £1,500, which will really help us make a difference to local families going through difficult times,” she said.
For more details, or to donate, log on to: home-start-reading.org.uk/
