Evening Standard marathon stars in race to help homeless
Runners taking part in Sunday’s virtual London Marathon in aid of the Standard’s Homeless Fund have called on the public to donate because charities are in need now “more than ever”.
The marathon, originally set for April 26, was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and replaced with a virtual event, which will see more than 45,000 people in 109 countries completing their own 26.2-mile route on Sunday.
They include a team of four runners taking on the challenge in aid of the Standard’s Homeless Fund.
The Homeless Fund has already raised £900,000 in our first appeal phase, which supported the London Homeless Collective, a coalition of 23 charities delivering direct services to people sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness in London.
The initiative is now focused on providing a response to the crisis caused by the virus. This will include seeking to address the food needs of homeless people through working to establish a community kitchen in central London.
It is intended that this will play an integral part in tacking the food shortages across the whole of London for years to come.
Our four runners have managed to raise nearly £10,000 and are hoping to reach £20,000. Each runner will be completing their route separately to ensure social distancing, but will all be wearing their on-brand ESI Homeless Fund running gear, donated by PB Leisure Wear.
Islington-based primary school teacher Paul Beeton, 40, will be competing in his first London Marathon. He said he has been overwhelmed by the support: “The training has provided routine, hope and endorphins.”
He plans to complete two loops of a route around Walthamstow Marshes and down to Limehouse, starting and finishing in Victoria Park.
More than 100 elite runners will be taking part in a physical race that will see them do nearly 20 laps of a closed-loop circuit around St James’s Park.
You can sponsor the runners by clicking on their names below
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