Midhurst charity worker raises more than £1,000 for Stonepillow in Great South Run

A charity worker from Midhurst has just completed the Great South Run, raising over £1,000 for Chichester-based homelessness charity Stonepillow.

Jenny Jackson, head of income generation at Stonepillow, completed the 10-mile race in Portsmouth on Sunday (October 18) in one hour and 45 minutes.

The route took runners through Portsmouth and its historic dockyard. Jenny described the experience as an “incredible day and wonderful atmosphere”.

“The sense of community was incredible and really brings home that everyone needs a cheerleader to help them when the going gets tough,” she said.

“The crowd cheering makes such a difference, some of my team from work came along as well as my husband and nephew.”

Jenny raised more than £1,000 for Stonepillow, a charity which supports people experiencing homelessness across Chichester and Arun.

Her fundraising total works out at roughly £100 per mile, providing an extra incentive during the final stretch.

“That really helped in the last two miles – I kept thinking that each mile was another £100 for Stonepillow. It kept the legs moving!” she said.

Before the event, Jenny spoke to the Midhurst and Petworth Observer about her passion for tackling homelessness. She also touched on her hope that the challenge would raise both money and awareness of the issue across the local area.

She previously highlighted how homelessness can affect people from all backgrounds, including in relatively affluent areas such as Chichester and rural communities where the problem can be less visible.

Those inspired to take on a challenge for Stonepillow can also sign up for upcoming events, including The Witterings Beach Run on November 1 and the Goodwood Motor Circuit Run on December 6.