Trustee, Kirsty Pettit, and HOPE Supporter, Kay Surry, complete the Great North Run and Bristol Half Marathon respectively, raising hundreds of pounds for projects in Ethiopia and Cambodia.

All clocking similar times of around two and a half hours, HOPE Trustee, Kirsty Pettit, along with her husband Andy, successfully completed the Great North Run on September 30th, while HOPE Supporter, Kay Surry, ran the Bristol Half Marathon back on September 9th.

Ironically, given the summer we have had, both days were warm, making the task that little bit harder, as well as providing a stark reminder of the importance of water in sustaining the human body. Kirsty said she was amazed just how much fluid her body required, enforcing in her mind the plight of those who have no access to a ready and sustainable supply of clean, safe drinking water - making Kirsty all the more determined to finish the run and secure the funding from her sponsors, much of which will be used in order to provide water for isolated communities in Ethiopia and Cambodia.

In Bristol, the going was equally tough, with Kay having to spend some time in the medical center after succumbing to exhaustion after the race had ended. Again, water was vital in her recovery, and she was only too grateful that some was on hand to aid her recovery, otherwise things could have been a lot worse.

That said, Kay is keen to run again and, along with Kirsty and Andy, has raised well over a thousand pounds of support for HOPE projects.

So, on behalf of HOPE, Kay, Kirsty and Andy, a big thank you to all who sponsored them, your generosity will make a massive difference to the lives of poor people living in the developing world.