A Norfolk mum plans to be the first person to do a sponsored run for a charity aiming to end homelessness.
Rachel Yallop, 37 and from Dereham, is aiming to raise at least £300 for Hopestead by taking part in the Cambridge Half Marathon on March 9.
Rachel said it would be the first time she had run the 21km distance.
“It has given me something to focus on and is pushing me outside my comfort zone,” she said. “I’d never have signed for a half marathon if it wasn’t for charity.”
Rachel works as a housing manager for Samphire Homes, which is part of Flagship Group alongside Hopestead.
She will be the first person to use the newly ‘Run for Hopestead’ portal, which makes it easy for people to support the charity by taking part in events across the UK and beyond.
Proceeds will go to Hope at Home, Hopestead’s programme to support people going from homelessness into permanent accommodation. Hope at Home provides essentials like furniture, flooring, and appliances to turn empty spaces into real homes.
Rachel said: “It’s exciting to be the first to take part. I’ve always been very invested in Hopestead and love hearing the good news stories and case studies about the people they’ve helped. My team works with Hopestead a lot through Hope at Home, helping people move into new homes, so it’s great to be able to give something back.”
Rachel said she had always enjoyed running, but has taken breaks over the years to raise her children, now aged 11 and three. She is running twice a week and swims as part of her training.
“I’m gradually building up my distance to 15km before the half marathon, and I’ll have to find that extra 6km somewhere on the day. Getting past the mental block and tired legs will be a challenge.”
Head of Operations at Hopestead, Lucy Parish, said: “We’re thrilled that Rachel is taking on this challenge for Hopestead. It really sums up what we’re all about – helping people move forward, even when the road ahead seems tough.
“Every pound Rachel raises will help people making the transition from homelessness to a stable, secure home and we hope she will inspire many others to get involved. Whether it’s a run, a bungee jump, or something completely different, each challenge helps us make a real difference.”
Hopestead was founded in 2020 with the aim of breaking the cycle of homelessness, and making sure everyone has a place to call home.
To support Rachel, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/rachel-yallop-1730921975731. To find out more about running for Hopestead, visit our Run for Hopesetead page.