Run solo, run relay, race to end homelessness
Emdad Rahman
The Crisis Square Mile Run series is back. This summer the charity needs enthusiastic people to join 2,500 runners and take to the streets of London to help raise much needed revenue to improve the lives of homeless people throughout the UK.
Thousands of runners will take part across two events, with teams of four competing in a relay race along the banks of the River Thames before solo runners take on an iconic four-mile route past St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tate Modern and the London Eye.
This year Crisis is hoping to raise £150,000 from the Crisis Square Mile Run series, with the money supporting the charity’s year-round education, employment and housing advice services for homeless people across the country.
Chris Holton ran for Crisis last year and is running again this summer. ELN caught up with him to get all the lowdown.
Why did you run the race to end homelessness? In my opinion, homelessness is a blight on society. In an age of such wealth and prosperity, that we can allow people to live in such vulnerable circumstances is a real crime. Homelessness often gets overlooked because people don’t want to face some of the issues connected to it, but it is important that we help people who are struggling rather than just turn our backs on them. Running the Crisis Square Mile Run was for me as much about bringing attention to this important issue among friends and colleagues as the money raised.
Do you have any experience of homelessness or know anybody who has? I have always been fortunate enough to have a secure home, but I do know people who have not.
Are you running again? Yes – and this year I have convinced my colleagues to run in the relay as well!
Would you encourage others to run, and why? Definitely. There are a lot of causes to support and a lot of marketers competing for an individual’s attention. I think getting others to participate in events like racing to end homelessness at the Crisis Square Mile Run only helps to give credibility to a cause which is incredibly important.
Do you feel people who experience homelessness are looked down on? People on the whole prefer not to think about homelessness. It is such a difficult problem to empathise with and most people would rather spend their time worrying about other things. That means that people tend to turn their head and try to block out the issue. I am sure some people look down on homeless people, but I prefer to think that the majority of people are better than that.
What needs to be done to change attitudes? Better awareness really. By keeping the issue in press and in the national conscience. Encouraging people to support homeless people.
Can homelessness affect anybody? I imagine that it could. With the way things are right now, I would have thought that a lot more people are starting to feel a lot more vulnerable.
Are you encouraged to volunteer with Crisis? I receive the regular newsletters from Crisis, which keep me updated on future events and encourage me to participate. I may even try the Mid-Winter Swim next year… although I might take a bit of convincing!
Crisis Square Mile Relay Thursday 4th June, 7pm Teams of four, each runner completes a two mile lap Paternoster Square, London £60 per team of four
Crisis Square Mile Run Thursday, 11th June, 7pm Four miles Paternoster Square, London Registration starts from £25 per runner
Please note the registration fee only covers the cost of the event. It is therefore essential that each runner raises just £50 in order for the Crisis Square Mile Run series to have as big an impact as possible.
Sign up here: http://community.crisis.org.uk/smr-2015/crisis-square-mile-run-2015
•For further information, contact Crisis at: 66 Commercial Street, London, E1 6LT tel.: 08000 38 48 38 email: enquiries@crisis.org.uk