Will you #HaveAHeart this Valentine’s Day?
Why a heart-shaped running challenge?
February fundraising
In February my running challenge #HaveAHeart is both for and with the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI).
Read more about my reasons for doing this fundraiser.
Raising awareness of how the UK Government separates families
I have first hand experience of the UK’s cruel family immigration policies. Through my experience I learnt more about the impact of these policies on thousands of families.
The Minimum Income Requirement
If you are British and have a non-British partner, you cannot live with your partner in the UK if you earn less than £18, 600 per year.
The Home Office literally tells people whose applications are refused to carry on a family life by video call.
The pandemic has shown all of us that video calls can never replace being with our loved ones in person. After all, you cannot hug over Skype!
This February we are hoping for light at the end of the tunnel of lockdowns and the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve continue to have to pull together and obey restrictions, so we can all get back to normality again. But for many normality has meant separation from their loved ones for years. This is not due to a pandemic, but due to cruel immigration policies. Let’s all pull together to bring this to an end too.
This is why I am joining JCWI and Reunite Families UK in putting out a simple and inclusive call to action! Everyone can take part, no-one needs to be excluded.
Shapes of solidarity
I invite you to use your daily exercise to create heart shapes for loved ones this Valentine’s Day.
Let’s create a celebration of love and family!
How to participate
- Use a fitness app to run, walk or cycle in the shape of a heart. Map out a route, or just eye-ball your way around a local park or field.
- Do this anytime between 8 and 14 February.
- Upload a photo of your heart route to Social media (Please include Twitter if you have an account) and use the hashtag #HaveAHeart and tag in @ReuniteDivFamil. Reunite Families UK provides support to families separated by this policy. Maybe also tag in a loved one and send out a positive message about the value of family.
- If you post before the Valentine’s day, please re-share your post on 14 February. Let’s send a wave of love across social media to show that all of us together #HaveAHeart.
Need further instructions? Want to participate in a different way?
Visit Reunite Families UK campaign page.
Access full instructions from JCWI here.
You can also share this page on social media and invite your friends to take part. All of us together can make a stand for a fairer, kinder and more equal society.
Donate to my fundraising page
If you would like to support the great work of JCWI, the please also consider donating to my fundraising page.
JCWI not only supports immigrants impacted by the system, but also takes legal action to fight for systemic change and fairer policies.
Thank you for your support.
Subscribe to my blog
I will be posting a recap at the end of each month of how things have gone with the running and the fundraising. My fundraising buddy, Lauren, will be writing an update about what the Home Office has been up to at the end of each month too. My updates will always have a link to her page as well.
You can also reach out by leaving a comment or on social media.
