West Sussex runners 'Turning Tides' this weekend
Five local runners will be running to raise money for a homeless charity
Five West Sussex runners will be turning the tides for a local homeless charity today.
The members of Bognor Regis Tone Zone Runners will aim to complete a 10 mile run in support of local homeless charity, Turning Tides.
They will be running a route along the seafront between the charity's community hub in Worthing and the community hub in Littlehampton.
One of the runners, Ruth Poyner, told us:
"I work for Turning Tides and have seen our frontline keyworkers work flat out throughout the pandemic to support homeless men and women. Now, we are seeing more and more local people lose their homes as the effects of Covid really begin to bite. We are very concerned about the growing numbers of people who need our services and support, particularly as the harshest months of the year approach along with a potential second wave of the pandemic. So it feels really important to show homeless men and women that they are not alone. Nevertheless, part of me is also very daunted - I am a relatively new and 'casual' runner - and I have never run 10 miles before in my life. The training has been tough!"
Ruth is being joined by fellow Tone Zoners Claire Baker (a Tone Zone coach), Holly Yandall, Paul Wells and Guy Russell-Hodgson.
They have set up a fundraising page, which you can donate to here.
The five will be running the event as part of Turning Tides' 'Go the Distance' initiative - a month long event throughout October asking people to take up a physical challenge in support of homeless people.
Ruth continues:
"I am so grateful to my running buddies who have taken up this challenge with me, we have all supported and encouraged each other. Even when my legs have screamed at me I've felt very lucky to be healthy enough to do a challenge like this. Homeless men and women are facing the prospect of a freezing winter on the streets alongside increasing Covid infection rates - it is unimaginable."
Turning Tides is the largest provider of support for men and women experiencing homelessness in West Sussex and runs 21 projects across the county.
The charity has been working locally for 28 years but, as a result of Covid, is now facing significantly increased need for its services which led to the launch of its first ever Emergency Appeal earlier this year.