My Story

Picture credit: James Kirkby

Welcome to my fundraising page!

I'm no stranger to running marathons, but this time it's different. I'm proud to be running not for myself but in support of Earthwatch, a fantastic cause that I feel deeply passionate about. 

Nature is my passion. From filling my little paved-over terrace front garden with pollinator-friendly plants, container ponds and bird feeders to installing a water butt, hot composter and wormery I am proof that even in a small area on a main road you can do your bit for the planet. And when I'm not outside tending to my mini wildlife haven or pursuing my lifelong hobby of birdwatching, I'm either working hard for a local, ethical organic vegbox scheme or furthering my wildlife knowledge through natural history study courses.

I believe that nature is fundamental - to our health, our wellbeing, to our very survival. And yet so many people are disconnected from this precious, vital, beautiful planet that we all share. And this disconnection leads to ecological crisis.

Earthwatch connect people with nature, motivate them to protect the environment and provide them with the knowledge and tools to make change happen. Through the power of Citizen Science, they champion findings collected by people at grassroots level to spark change in our neighbourhoods and at the highest levels of government. By fighting for our fragile earth through practical science they sow the seeds of our planet’s survival. 

Earthwatch work where they can have the biggest impact – in our towns and cities, throughout our network of rivers, lakes and wetlands and in our farmed fields. From Nature in Cities programmes such as Green Earth Schools and urban Tiny Forests through to FreshWater Watch community groups and WaterBlitz events and the Farming with Nature programme to support farmers and agri-businesses to re-imagine the way they farm and produce food in balance with nature, Earthwatch empower people from all walks of life to join the debate about the future management of the environment and contribute to the change we need.

I'm looking forward to lacing up my trainers and running through the glorious South Pennines to raise awareness of this amazing charity. Here's how your donations could help their crucial work:

• £15 could buy vegetable plants for an urban school as part of Green Earth Schools.
• £25 could buy freshwater quality testing kits for our FreshWater Watch volunteers.
• £50 could support community science events in a Tiny Forest.

Please visit the Earthwatch website for more information.

Thanks for taking the time to read and for any donation you can make, however small.

Katie S.