Mothers from Devon in 5k buggy push through Exeter
A mother of two from Exeter has organised a 5k buggy push through Exeter to raise money for mothers around the world this Saturday, 1 March, at 2pm.
Sarah Merson who is 28 and from Exeter and her friend 25-year-old Jess Reeman from Collumpton are leading the 5k buggy push through Exeter with other parents and families to raise money for Oxfam's Motherhood appeal which celebrates mums around the world. Sarah and Jess will walk pushing their children's buggies with Maya 2, Lara who is five months and Florence next Saturday 1 March from 2pm at Exeter Quay with other parents and children.
Sarah said: “As a mum of two I know motherhood comes with its share of struggles and so I want to try and raise some money for this wonderful appeal.
"Mothers are some of the world’s most powerful people, they feed us, teach us and protect us and they love unconditionally. Mothers everywhere usually want the best for their children but for many mums in countries around the world this is a massive struggle.
"Every day they fight to feed their children enough food, to give them enough clothes and clean water, they fight to send to their children to school but they end up losing that daily battle if they can’t afford it. It takes almost superhuman strength to succeed and yet the world’s poorest mothers never give up.
"This appeal celebrates the spirits of mums everywhere.
“A double buggy push through Exeter will be hard but as I know from my own personal experiences of travelling this is nothing compared to what mothers around the world do.
"They carry their children without pushchairs or buggies, all they have are swaddling clothes and they will carry their children for miles every day to fetch clean water, tend to their crops and to send their children to school.
"By supporting Oxfam’s Motherhood appeal you will be giving mothers worldwide the lift they need to change their future because by lifting a mother she will lift her whole family and community.”
Sarah is asking local parents and residents in Exeter to get involved in the buggy push with or without a buggy! People can contact Sarah and sign up for the challenge through Sarah’s Facebook page
Oxfam’s Motherhood appeal which is being supported by celebrities including Zoe Ball, Lauren Laverne, Abbey Clancy and Rochelle Humes, aims to celebrate and help mothers around the world lift themselves and their families out of poverty for good. The appeal, which runs until the end of March, hopes to raise over £10 million for Oxfam’s vital work and, thanks to the UK government, every pound raised will be doubled.
Lending her support to the appeal The Saturdays’ Rochelle Humes who gave birth to her daughter, Alaia-Mai last year said: “I’m supporting Oxfam’s Mother Appeal because being a mum makes me appreciate everything my mother has done for me; words cannot describe how much joy Alaia-Mai has brought to our lives.”
There are lots of ways to get involved and support the appeal, whether it’s donating unwanted goods to Oxfam shops; Shwopping used or unwanted clothes in Marks & Spencer stores; holding a fundraising get together with friends and colleagues; or simply donating money via Oxfam’s website.
Money raised from the government matched funding (up to £5 million) will go directly towards three Oxfam projects in Bangladesh, Tajikistan and Zambia to help support women farmers, many of whom are mothers, earn a better income and gain equal status in the home and in their communities.
Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State for International Development said: “By matching donations to Oxfam’s appeal pound for pound, we can help women in some of the world’s poorest communities earn a decent income in order to secure a better future for themselves and their families.”
To find out more about Oxfam’s Mother Appeal and ways to get involved visit www.oxfam.org.uk/Mother-Appeal
To contact Sarah Merson call 07737 786 894
