Marathon run to raise funds for Daily Bread

Two friends have joined forces to help benefit the invaluable work of The Daily Bread programme.

Earl Jones is currently training for his first ever full marathon — the New York Marathon on November 3. The money raised will go towards the programme that Bermuda Sun photographer Nicola Muirhead volunteers for. Muirhead has documented Jones training for the run while Jones, also a photographer, will be documenting his journey.

Jones, who is spending much of his free time training for the 26.2 mile run, told the Bermuda Sun: “I went along with Nicola to Daily Bread for the ride and got a tour. I had a loose understanding about what they did. I’d always wanted to tie the running to and have a purpose to it that would be beneficial and motivating and useful for the community in some way. One of the criteria I liked about Daily Bread was the immediacy of it, the fact that the money raised would be used directly. The money goes in, the food is distributed and right away it is in the community.”

Daily Bread runs out of local charity the Eliza Dolittle Society and aims to reduce hunger and food wastage in Bermuda by collecting and distributing food to agencies that feed the island’s hungry.

Muirhead, who has been volunteering for the charity for over two years and is helping to publicise Jones’ fundraising efforts, told us: “I actually met Margaret Ward, the Executive Director, when she was bringing out a hot plate of food to a homeless couple on the street. She pulled over and I saw her fiddling around with the trays and going over to give it to them and I thought gosh, talk about on the ground aid and perseverance. The entire organization is pretty incredible in what they do. The money we raise will be feeding anywhere betwee 300 to 600 people a week or food vouchers for two seniors for a year — that is also part of the programme.”

Asked whether he was ready for the run, Jones said: “The closer it gets the more mental pressure there is. But it is fun. 

“I like that we are doing it like this — it adds extra accountability, more motivation, there’s more at stake. Training seriously for the past two months, leading up to it.”

The pair is suggesting pledges of $1 per mile but they stress that they would be happy to receive any amount towards the cause. 

The donation collection link is http://bit.ly/1aq1ney. This website features a blurb about the fundraiser and has a link to the Facebook Page: “Earl Runs for Daily Bread”. People can also donate directly to Daily Bread Tel: 333-4483 or 232-4483 or [email protected]. For more information visit www.elizadoolittle.bm