Running the length of Britain: fundraising for vital tax charities

Almost every morning for 35 days, Andrew Disley laced up his running shoes determined to make a difference for people in need. Inspired by his long career in tax and dedication to volunteering for the tax charities, Andrew took on the 1,030 mile ‘Run Britannia’ challenge across the UK. Through this incredible feat he has so far raised over £3,500 for Tax Aid and Tax Help for Older People.

The journey of 1,034 miles (including four ‘bonus’ miles resulting from navigation issues and four rest days) covered over 90,000 feet of ascent. Andrew was on his feet for almost exactly 300 hours – approximately 10hours per day of running.

For Andrew, the highlight of the challenge was running across the Quantock Hills and the camaraderie of his fellow runners: ‘The views and scenery in Somerset were wonderful and there was nobody else around. We also had a very supportive group and crew helping each other through the highs and lows.’

The charities behind the miles: Tax Aid and Tax Help for Older People

Tax Aid and Tax Help for Older People are UK charities that provide tax advice and support for people on low incomes who are unable to afford the tax advice they desperately need. At our heart, we believe that no one should pay more tax than they owe, simply because they cannot afford to pay for tax advice.

In 2023/24, 18,667 people contacted our helplines, seeking help often at a point of crisis. Through the tax expertise of our staff and volunteers, the charities generated tax refunds of £315,937 and cancelled tax debt of £1,063,139 for people suffering financial hardship.

There are many people in the UK who need our help and we aim to help everyone who needs us. But to do so, we need the support of people like Andrew and our supporters within the tax community to help us.

Individual efforts, like Andrew’s, make an incredible difference to Tax Aid and Tax Help for Older People. The support of the outstanding tax community allows us to continue our service, develop how we help people, and ensure more people who need our service know we are here to help them.

Please donate to Andrew’s fundraiser by following this link: www.justgiving.com/page/andrew-disley-1717839701965

Andrew’s motivation

‘I have been volunteering with Tax Aid for ten years now and see in my weekly work the great difficulties that our clients encounter and the huge need for Tax Aid’s services. I saw this run as a great opportunity to raise money for the cause. It was a significant challenge but also very enjoyable with fantastic scenery and great company.’

Every step counts: here’s how you can get involved

We have just launched several new fundraising events on our website, including the Hackney Half Marathon, Ride London-Essex, Santa in the City and various events nationwide. Follow the QR code to explore our events. Every mile, every donation and every effort counts. Thank you for your support. And thank you again to Andrew Disley for taking on this monumental challenge and supporting the charities for over 10 years.

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