This October I will be running the Irish Life Dublin Marathon 2026 to raise money for Concern Worldwide. As you may know I recently spent 6 weeks in Liberia conducting research with Concern Worldwide. I have witnessed firsthand the impact of humanitarian aid and development on securing livelihoods and better nutrition outcomes. Liberia in particular has been setback by a 14 year civil war, Covid19 and Ebola, and now climate change is a real threat to the food security of smallholder farmers. Concern works with rural communities to develop capacity, to empower women and men to take ownership of improving their lives. I got to spend time working with the lovely national staff (who have since become friends I am still in touch with!) learning about all the initiatives covering everything from increasing crop yields with agro-ecological, climate smart practices to gender mainstreaming and tackling malnutrition and financial insecurity. I have seen where the money goes and how essential these donations are to keep these projects running (and what a challenge it is to continue to operate in this era of donor funding cuts). Running a marathon is a large undertaking but the discomfort of running 26.2 miles pales in comparison to the daily challenges of people living below the poverty line. The people on the ground, at the frontline of climate change and food insecurity would greatly appreciate your support. Any amount you give will be helpful. Thank you.