On Sunday 12 September, three incredible Home for Good supporters are taking on the 26.2 miles of the Brighton Marathon to raise awareness and money to help find a home for every child who needs one. We caught up with Verity, who has shared with us why she’s taking on the challenge!

Hi Verity! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

My name is Verity. I’m currently studying for a degree in Early Years and Education. My aim is to achieve my teacher status and to teach children with special educational needs. Alongside my studies, I currently work as a personal assistant for children with additional needs, and in September I’ll be starting a new job as a teaching assistant in a SEN school.

What made you decide to run the Brighton Marathon for Home for Good?

During lockdown last year I heard a talk given at a local church in which they spoke about the work of Home for Good. I hadn’t ever heard of Home for Good before, but soon after that I noticed that a friend of mine was sharing about Home for Good on his social media platforms. He is a Home for Good Champion, and was sharing his own story as an adoptive dad through short videos and posts while he trained for the London Marathon.

I got a copy of the Home for Good book and really began to feel inspired. I wondered what I could do to play my part in caring for vulnerable children. I spotted that Home for Good were inviting people to run the Brighton marathon to raise awareness of the needs of vulnerable children and to raise money to help find a home for every child who needs one. I ran the London Marathon in 2019 for a local charity and have kept up running since (although they’ve been much shorter runs since then), and I really love Brighton – this felt like a clear sign to enter the marathon and to play my part!

How has your training been going?

I won’t lie, it’s been hard – finding the time in between work and studying to get the miles in has been particularly challenging! I keep wishing that I had kept my distance up after my last marathon, but listening to uplifting songs and remembering why I’m running has been really keeping me going, and I’ve had so much support from my family and friends. The last time I ran a marathon I organised lots of fundraising events to get those close to me involved, and because of COVID I haven’t been able to do that this time round which has been a little disappointing, but even without those fun extras I have felt so supported and encouraged by my friends and my family as they cheer me on.

What difference do you hope running this marathon will make?

I hope that more people will learn about Home for Good, about the need for more foster and adoptive families, and about the different ways we can support those who care for children. I hope that we as a marathon team can support Home for Good to encourage and point individuals and families in the right direction as they explore fostering or adoption. And I hope that I encourage others to consider what part they could play – it’s so easy to put things off, to say ‘it’s not the right time,’ but each of us have a unique part to play in standing with vulnerable children and their families. Be brave! Take that first step in exploring what your part could be!

We are so grateful to Verity and to our other fundraising heroes running the Brighton Marathon on 12 September 2021, who have already raised over £2,000!

You can donate to Verity's fundraising page here.

From the Yorkshire Three Peaks to the Giant's Causeway Challenge in Northern Ireland, to take on your own fundraising adventure for Home for Good, visit homeforgood.org.uk/stand-with-us