Street Child trio prepare for London Marathon  

Three friends from Norfolk churches are seeking support for Street Child as they prepare to run next weekend’s London Marathon for the first time.  

The three, representing St Thomas Norwich, Soul Church and Garden Church, are nurse Boo Hendra, and business partners Matti St John and Josh Smith from Norfolk fresh produce company Goodery. This week one anonymous donor gave them £1000, and they have now put up their target to £4k, hoping to raise as much as possible for children caught in conflict, natural disasters and destitution. 
 
Boo, a nurse and mother of two, said: “Street Child has a fantastic ethos. I try and see each training run as a prayer, an offering to God, and pray that through Street Child and all of our prayers, many children's lives across the world would be improved.’’ 
 
Matti, a youth worker at St Thomas Norwich added: “I am excited to be running the streets of London for Street Child. And I’ll be praying for the youth of London too. I intend to pray the proclamation of Isiah 60:18 over London on the mile every mile: ‘Violence shall no longer be heard in your land… you shall call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.’” 
 
“Every early morning training session,” said Josh, “every blister, ice bath, stress sprain and muscle cramp is worth it if we help raise more funds for children who desperately need the support of Street Child.’’ 
 
Street Child, whose founder and CEO Tom Dannatt regularly attends church in Norwich, has become one of the fastest-growing international children’s charities, working across more than 21 countries worldwide, from Sub-Saharan Africa to Asia, and now Europe and Ukraine. 
 
Anna Lloyd, Head of Church Engagement for the charity, said: “It is phenomenal to think that a charity with such a far-reaching impact has its roots here in Norfolk. Daily, it shines a light for tens of thousands of children in some of the darkest corners of our planet. From conflict zones in Afghanistan and Ukraine, to the earthquake affected regions in Syria and Turkey, Street Child works to bring vital assistance, provision, and hope.”   
 
The charity has helped over 900,000 children access education and mental health provision. It has supported 124,848 adults through programmes to make families self-sufficient and communities sustainable. And it works closely with trusted local partners to ensure sustainable assistance.  
 
If you would like to support Boo, Josh and Matti, and the work of Street Child, please go to:  
https://www.justgiving.com/team/LondonMarathonStreetChild 
 
If your church or community would like to know more about Street Child, you can contact Anna Lloyd on churches@street-child.org

Pictured above are (left to right) Boo Hendra, Matti St John and Josh Smith.