Will’s running the marathon for Barnardo’s

A teacher at Ruth Gorse Academy in Hunslet is running the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday (23 April 2017) for Barnardo’s.

Will Shuttleworth, 37, from Beeston is aiming to raise £2,000 for the children’s charity which supports vulnerable children and young people.

As well as running the marathon six foot five inches Will is a volunteer at Barnardo’s Futures in Leeds – a service which provides supported lodgings to care leavers and other vulnerable young people aged 16-21, who need support and are not yet ready to live fully independently.

Will says “I’m running for Barnardo’s because I think that a charity that has at its heart the idea of supporting children no matter what, is more than worth supporting.

“People taking children into their homes and their families give away a huge amount of emotional energy and time, and all the people I’ve met who work and volunteer for the charity are very impressive. That’s what encourages me and that’s what makes me proud to be running for Barnardo’s.”

The school, which serves Belle Isle, Beeston Hill, Holbeck and Richmond Hill, has supported Will through a Christmas Jumper Day in December and the ‘Great Gorse Bake-Off’ with a break-time cake sale.

Vicky Dobie, manager of Barnardo’s Futures says “We are so grateful to Will for running for Barnardo’s, as well as all he does as a supported lodgings volunteer for Futures. He and his wife Beth have a young person living with them and included in their family and they have been a huge support to her, educationally and emotionally.”

To donate to Will’s run please look at his just giving page here justgiving.com/fundraising/Will-Shuttleworth