Ready steady go: staff and supporters of the Fostering Network take on Belfast City Marathon

Fifty-five supporters of Northern Ireland’s top fostering charity will be hitting the streets of Belfast in this year’s City Marathon on Monday 5 May, in an effort to raise funds for its work with foster families.

The team, which includes foster families and Fostering Network staff, hopes to raise over £2,000, as well as get fit and increase the profile of fostering in Northern Ireland.

As well as those taking part in the 26.2-mile marathon run, team members will participate in the nine-mile marathon walk, the three-mile fun run and the team relay which follows the same route as the marathon run.

Foster carer and fun runner, Barbara Fleet from Saintfield in County Down, said: "We’re doing it as one big family to try and raise more awareness of what fostering is all about. My husband, children and our foster child are all taking part and it feels great to be doing something like this for such a worthy cause."

Kate Lewis, director of the Fostering Network Northern Ireland, said: "We are delighted to have such a large group taking part in this event. Not only is it a great opportunity to increase public awareness of fostering but every penny raised will enable us to offer better support to foster carers who make such an amazing contribution to the lives of some of our most vulnerable children and young people."

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Notes to Editors

  1. The Belfast City Marathon starts at Belfast City Hall at 9am on Monday 5 May, and finishes at Ormeau Park. To sponsor and of the Fostering Network team, contact christina.donnelly@fostering.net or phone 028 9070 5056. To find out more about Foster Care Fortnight or becoming a foster carer, visit www.couldyoufoster.org.uk
  2. There are 2,500 children and young people in the care system on any given day in Northern Ireland, of whom 1,500 are living with 1,300 foster families. The Fostering Network estimates that 350 more foster families are needed. The charity’s annual awareness campaign, Foster Care Fortnight, which aims to encourage more people to become foster carers, begins on Monday 12 May 2008.
  3. The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading charity for all those involved in foster care, and exists to ensure that fostered children and young people receive the highest standards of care.
  4. For media enquiries contact Angela King on 020 7620 6416 or media@fostering.net
Josephine

“I have had several careers in my life, but nothing as rewarding as this”

“As my own parents have been foster carers since I was very young, I know from long experience what a fantastic job foster carers do.”