Farm Africa is a charity which works to reduce poverty in eastern Africa by helping farmers grow and sell more using sustainable practices.
NFU external affairs manager Emma Crosby, NFU external affairs adviser Jen Cox and NFU media adviser Lizzy Milne took up the mantle of Team NFU from the likes of President Tom Bradshaw, Deputy President David Exwood and former NFU President Minette Batters, who have run in previous years.
So far, the team has raised more than £5,500 in support of Farm Africa.
‘Vital that we work together’
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said he was “really proud” of Team NFU for taking on the marathon challenge and helping to “support the brilliant work that Farm Africa does”.
He added: “While we’re facing challenges of our own, those challenges are also being felt by farmers across the globe and its vital that we work together.
“Having run the race myself in 2021 for Farm Africa, I don’t envy the number of miles ahead of Team NFU, but the funds raised will help support family farms in east Africa to build sustainable businesses and overcome poverty.”
Following the event, NFU external affairs manager Emma Crosby said: “I had the most incredible day running the London marathon for Farm Africa.
“A huge thanks to everyone for their words of encouragement and donations – I can’t tell you how much it helped spur me on, especially during the last 5 miles!
Today, over half of the world’s extreme poor live in sub-Saharan Africa. The vast majority work in agriculture.
Farm Africa reduces poverty in eastern Africa by helping farmers grow more, sell more and sell for more.
For more information, visit: Farm Africa.org
“For anyone considering doing a marathon, I would wholeheartedly recommend continuing the NFU tradition of running the London marathon for Farm Africa; the atmosphere was electric and knowing that all the money you raise is going to a fantastic cause helping farmers in East Africa grow and sell more to lift people out of poverty is all the motivation you need to get through the training block and the 26.2 miles on the day.”
How to donate
This year Team NFU is aiming to raise £6,000.
If you'd like to donate, you can visit the Team NFU page on Just Giving.
Here's how your sponsorship could help:
- £5 could help to buy 10kg of forage seeds, so that farmers can grow food for their livestock.
- £11 could provide training to one woman in high-quality coffee production in Uganda.
- £16 could help to pay for a farmer to hire help to bring in his harvest.
- £22 could help to establish a forest product enterprise.
- £60 is enough to buy two local female goats for pastoralist women in Ethiopia.
- £100 could help to provide two farmers with the means to start a beekeeping business, including a hive, beekeeping equipment and a bee colony.
