I'm taking part in the Oxford Half Marathon in October because: a) I'm a little crazy, and; b) I want to raise money for a great Christian charity called Aldates Community Transformation (ACT). 

ACT works with prisoners, ex-offenders and homeless persons in the Oxford area, seeking to transform their situations by providing a community of support, mentoring and befriending as well as signposting to other services. It even has a limited amount of housing thanks to some truly amazing volunteers and supporters! 

Of course I'm biased - I volunteered for ACT last year and I currently work for the charity. I've see ACT's work from the inside - in prisons, on the streets and with ex-offenders - and in short it is amazing. ACT doesn't simply want to support those who are on the streets, in probation hostels or in prisons. Rather it's working to see those situations changed: for homeless people to be housed, for addictions to be broken and for re-offending to stop.  

You can find out more at www.actoxford.com or by emailing office@actoxford.com. Of course, you could just talk to me!