Fareham running club's food bank deliveries go UK-wide

Sarah Donaghy said she wanted to help as many other people as possible

A mother's food delivery service with a difference has taken off across the UK and turned into a national movement.

Sarah Donaghy, from Fareham, Hampshire, founded Food Bank Run with her running partner James Musselwhite in 2018.

Members of their local running club began taking food to local food banks as part of their weekly social run.

She said: "We expected about 20 people to turn up when we first started, but we lost count at 70 - we then decided we had to carry on doing it".

Food Bank Run became an annual event for Fareham Running Club until the Covid pandemic, and then tragedy struck Sarah's family.

Ms Donaghy said: "We were coming out of lockdown and I was pregnant with my fifth child. Sadly, she was stillborn.

"But when I came out of hospital, my neighbours cooked meals for me and my family for the next few weeks.

"I realised then I had to pay it forward and roll out Food Bank Run to help as many other people as we could."

Ms Donaghy and her running partner James Musselwhite founded Food Bank Run in 2018

Sarah contacted more than 3,000 running clubs across the UK and was amazed at the response.

"So many clubs were interested, it was absolutely crazy," she said.

A Portsmouth clothing company called Runr also got on board and helped spread the idea on online and on social media.

More than 500 running clubs now hold their own Food Bank Runs, mainly in February when donations to foodbanks are at their lowest.

This week, a group of more than 50 runners set off from Stubbington carrying backpacks

Claire Johnson, who runs the Waypoint Hub food bank in Fareham, said: "Christmas is always really busy as people are thinking about giving but by February we've run out. That's when people really feel the pinch.

"Every year more and people rely on us for food, it's heartbreaking".

This week, a group of more than 50 runners set off from Stubbington carrying backpacks containing pasta, tea, rice and other staples to take to Fareham.

"Running can be quite a selfish activity with its focus on times and personal bests,", Ms Donaghy said.

"But Food Bank Run is the opposite, it's a communal, community-spirited event."

Claire Johnson says people feel the pinch in February

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