A local mental health nurse is stepping up her preparations for the Brighton Marathon having seen the work being done by a Brighton charity.
Melanie Atkinson, who is also a counsellor, said: “I am running the 2017 Brighton Marathon for Brighton Housing Trust because no one should be homeless in the 21st century.
“They deliver services and projects across Brighton and East Sussex to those people most in need.
“They change lives and they save lives. They ensure that people, in spite of austerity, still get services, opportunities, access to justice and their rights protected. And they provide homes for people.
“Last year BHT worked with 6,843 clients, 4,442 of whom had a physical or mental disability and 1,038 were rough sleepers.
“Its day centre, First Base, was open for 288 days last year and helped 306 to move off the streets. That’s one for every day.
“This is my last marathon run, I promise, and I will be just less than a couple of months off from being 55.
“I’m sure that between us we can raise a great sum for a good cause. Seeing the sponsor money slowly grow gives me that extra push to head out for the long, gruelling, painful, arduous, training runs. Come and watch if you can too and yell like crazy!”
Melanie is married to Councillor Peter Atkinson, a member of Brighton and Hove City Council and a long-term supporter of BHT.
To sponsor Melanie, click here.
