Raising money and profile for the local charity
Friends of the Family Winchester
Hello, I am Karen. I am a keen runner (2 hour 43 min marathon back in the day and longstanding member of Winchester & District AC), Mum to Annabel, Olivia and Freddie, married to Simon and the Chair of Trustees of Friends of the Family Winchester (FOTF).
Over the years I have run the Clarendon Marathon, half marathon and been part of several relay teams. However, in 2021 I had the madcap idea to ask my family to be part of a 4 person relay team with me and to my surprise they said yes! FOTF was the Rotary President’s Charity of the year 2021/22 and I wanted to support a Rotary event, whilst raising some money and profile of the Charity I care so much about.
For us, exercise and fitness is a big part of our lives. However, there is nothing like a team event to get you motivated. We were beset with some injuries, so picking the different relay legs became a tactical challenge in itself. I kicked off on leg 1 and was left by the speedsters on that stage to push on up the hills. I handed over to Simon for leg 2, he had struggled with a calf issue so we were mightily relieved to see him fly down the hill into the change over at Broughton and pass the baton to Annabel. She was our secret weapon and made light of the challenging terrain of leg 3, handing over to her younger sister to bring the baton home. Digging deep and recalling her hockey fitness Olivia flew into the finish bringing us home as the 8th mixed team. To say I was proud is an understatement.
It was important to us that our family worked together and finished together. We all support FOTF and know the difference the Charity makes to the lives of vulnerable children and families in Winchester. In this fast-paced world where it’s all about the here and now, FOTF offer time to our families, through volunteer befriending, Mums support groups, Dads support and counselling.
Time is free but the offering comes with its costs and we need £100,000 pa to maintain the services FOTF offers. Winchester Rotary have been very generous this last year and their donations have allowed us to offer workshops, days out and extras over and above our core services, which during the Covid lockdowns we had to curtail. There is nothing better than seeing the smile on a child’s face when decorating a cupcake or taking a ride at Paultons Park or stroking a donkey at Finley Down Farm.
This autumn the charity will be running a series of practical workshops using art for mental health as a theme. Kicking off with an art and wellbeing workshop for our volunteers, this is designed to help volunteers in their roles supporting the children, and to upskill them on the benefits of art therapy and the positive impact it can have on children’s wellbeing.
To donate to FOTF, volunteer and find out more abut us, please visit:
https://www.fotfwinchester.org/
I cannot recommend the Clarendon Marathon events enough, they are superbly organised, supported, marked and make a huge difference to small charities like Friends of the Family.
Good luck to all runners in 2022 and beyond.
Karen Hazlitt
