A READING assistant headteacher is gearing up to run the TCS London Marathon next month in aid of Parents And Children Together (PACT)
Sarah Morris is set to lace up her running shoes to raise funds for the charity, which provides life-changing adoption and trauma support services.
She will join thousands of runners on Sunday, April 26, to complete the 26.2-mile challenge in support of PACT, which delivers adoption services, specialist therapeutic support and inspirational community projects.
Sarah took up running 11 years ago after the birth of her daughter, to support her mental health.
She has already completed the Reading and Cardiff Half Marathons twice, with Cardiff being her hometown.
Sarah is one of seven members of Team PACT running this year’s London Marathon. She has a £2,000 fundraising target and is encouraging the community to support her through her fundraising page.
Sarah said: “Working in a secondary school, I felt very strongly that I wanted to raise money for a local charity that can make a difference to children and young families.
“I wanted to support a charity which both supports people to become a family and also supports those who have difficulties within their families.
“Having friends who work for the charity, I believe in the amazing work they do and the opportunity to support them means the world to me.”
She explained: “Entering my forties, I wanted to take on a bigger challenge and London seemed the perfect fit.
“The training is exhausting–I’m sticking to my plan and slowly plodding along.
“I won’t set the world on fire, but I will get my legs through 42km and that’s good enough for me.”
She also explains that she has been making the most of her training by exploring new places to run: “I’m really enjoying planning my long runs around places we need to be as a family. So far, I’ve run an old trainline in Pembrokeshire, along the Thames Path (up the hills!) from Pangbourne and from Tilehurst to Reading Rugby Club.
“Next week I’ll be discovering the canal path to go from Burghfield to Thatcham; finding new places to run is the best bit – although I’m not enjoying the 5am starts for the gym sessions.”
“I’m really looking forward to the experience of seeing all the sights. My parents are from London, so visits to London as a child hold brilliant memories for me and I’m building those with my own children.
“The opportunity to see all these sights whilst my family cheer me on will be priceless.”
Sarah added: “I wanted to run this as a personal challenge, but I equally felt it was important that I gave something back whilst I was doing it.
“Charities can only survive with the donations they receive, and the good work PACT does is so important to families across Reading.
“Please think about donating if you can, it only needs to be a small amount – every penny really does help.”
PACT Chief Executive Natausha van Vliet said: “We are incredibly grateful to the terrific team we have running for PACT in this year’s London Marathon. We are so grateful for their dedication and energy, and their fundraising helps us continue our vital work supporting families, children and women.”
