Pam Writes:
I finally completed my 100 Miles running challenge on the 31st day of December. When I started, on the 1st, it was windy and pouring with rain. I seriously doubted whether I was going to be able to achieve what I set out to do. Luckily there was more sunshine and less rain and I found my stride – I started to look forward to my daily runs – and I stopped worrying about the weather.
Most importantly, I achieved, and surpassed, my fundraising target. When I say my target, I should say our target, because I could not have done this without all the amazing donations which added to the total. Between us, we raised over £2550 (at the time of writing).
I spent a lot of time thinking, and looking and listening while I was running. We are so lucky here in Great Yarmouth, because we can look out to sea, along the beach and across the river and see creation – the blues, the greens, the sparkles and the sunlight - and feel creation in the power of the wind and rain! There are also creatures - both small and large - ducks and seals, seagulls and swans. Gratitude and awe were close companions.
Running up and down the many streets of the town, I collected images, on camera, and mentally, as I passed. I noted where the schools were, the hospitals and surgeries, the charities and churches, cemeteries, murals, medieval walls, bridges, historic and modern ships and boats, civic, commercial and industrial buildings. I passed many homes – some belonging people I know – our clergy team, friends and neighbours. I saw lots of roadworks, a few empty shops and some derelict and broken places. Of course, I saw tents and duvets and sleeping bags too. Plenty of opportunities to think.
I also noticed people – how a smile or a cheery “hello” elicits a positive response in return. Frequently my ‘run times’ looked fraudulently slow – usually because I stopped to talk to the people I met. Some of these people I knew, and I was so grateful for their support and encouragement. Others I spoke to were strangers – a few homeless people, who show such resilience in their adversity, and the woman who had stopped to hand out socks. I spoke to people who were working – the man clearing the worm-casts on the bowling green, the seal warden checking an abandoned seal pup on the beach, the volunteer gardener in the Waterways. I spoke to lost visitors and on one occasion, a film crew. Oh, and quite a few dogs!
Sometimes I hardly noticed anything, except the thoughts and questions in my head. For example, “Why am I doing this when I could be at home, in the warm, writing Christmas cards?” or “What is that niggly pain in my back/hip/knee/ankle/foot?” (which always disappeared after a mile or two).
Usually though, my thoughts would turn to the real purpose of my running: the homeless, the housing crisis, food poverty, health inequality, unemployment, addiction, intolerance, crime… What can we do about it? For the last two years we have been working on one tiny bit of a solution – Faith House!
When it has been refurbished, and furnished, Faith House will be used to provide accommodation for three single people who have struggled because of homelessness. Faith House will be a warm, comfortable and secure home. The tenants will be supported in two ways. Firstly, the charity Hope Into Action will provide them with an Empowerment Worker, who will offer expert support as the individuals begin to turns their lives around. Secondly, our Parish will provide a Friendship and Support Group who will offer friendly support, practical help, community and somewhere to belong. Together we hope to empower people to live independently and productively.
What we are trying to do right now is to find enough money to complete the refurb. The original quote for the work was about £30,000!!! Some imaginative thinking and a lot of work on the part of a few volunteers have brought this sum down to around £10 - £15,000. We are hoping to attract some of this through grants. The money raised through ‘100 Miles in December’ will show the grant providers that we mean business.
So, the work goes on - one step at a time. Don’t forget, it’s never too late to donate!
https://www.hopeintoaction.org.uk
https://www.gofundme.com/f/2zrr26-100-miles-in-december