Three years ago, Chris Richardson had hardly run at all. Now, our dedicated Trustee and volunteer is taking on the Great Bristol Run half-marathon on Sunday, 11th May to raise £1,000 for North Bristol & South Glos Foodbank. His inspiring journey from complete novice to half-marathon runner isn’t just about personal achievement — it’s about making a real difference for local people facing food poverty.
Chris has been part of our food bank family almost since the beginning. “Initially, I volunteered on a one-off basis,” he explains. “Very early on, I became part of the driving team, transporting food from our warehouse to wherever it was needed.”
As our operations grew, so did Chris’s involvement — from driving food around in his personal car before we had vans, to becoming a Trustee when we formed North Bristol & South Glos Foodbank. His commitment to fighting food poverty in our community has been unwavering, and this half-marathon challenge represents his latest effort to support our vital work.
An Unexpected Runner: Chris’s Transformation
Chris’s running journey began with a bit of parental trickery. When his daughter returned from Zambia, she was keen for him to join her running routine. Though Chris had no intention of becoming a runner, he agreed to walk the park perimeter while she ran. “When she was out of sight, I’d break into a run, then slow to a casual walk whenever I knew she could see me again,” Chris recalls with a mischievous smile. His daughter wondered why she wasn’t catching up with him, eventually cutting across a field. After being caught out, he had no excuse left.
Starting with Couch to 5K, Chris was partly motivated by watching his father’s struggle with vascular dementia after years of inactivity. “I realised it’s not good to have no cardio fitness, so I started running, so I wouldn’t end up the same way.”
The positive effects were immediate. “I actually felt much better for it,” he says. Soon, 5K became 10K, and now he’s ready for 13.1 miles.
Why the Great Bristol Run?
For Chris, the Great Bristol Run was the natural choice. “It’s local and the route is relatively flat — I don’t like running up hills,” he explains. “I can just arrive in the morning and run around Bristol without getting lost.”
The event offers a special atmosphere too. “Running in a big event with people cheering you on is quite something,” Chris recalls from previous races. “I was puzzled at first why everyone seemed to know my name, then realised it was on my bib!”
Training and Preparation
As a self-described “fair-weather runner,” Chris has a refreshingly honest approach to training. “I won’t go out if it’s pouring or scorching hot,” he admits. Being retired gives him flexibility, with winter training focused on “just keeping going until spring, then extending the distance a bit.”
His goal is straightforward: complete the half-marathon without stopping. “Last year, I cramped up at 16 kilometres and had to walk, so I’m hoping to run the whole way this time.”
Chris will be running with a friend who helps keep his pace sensible. “She was a good pacemaker last year, keeping me slower for the first seven kilometres.”
Why This Cause Matters
Food insecurity is a growing crisis in our community. Last year, North Bristol & South Glos Foodbank provided emergency food to 8,022 people — a staggering 2% of our local population. Among those we helped were 3,000 children facing hunger, equivalent to 100 school classrooms. This isn’t just about food, either; it’s about addressing the root causes of poverty.
Chris has witnessed this need firsthand as a Trustee and volunteer. “This cause matters to me because I’ve always been involved in charities helping those in need,” he explains. His commitment stems from a deep belief that no one in our community should face hunger alone.
The Impact of Your Support
Your donation to Chris’s half-marathon challenge will make a tangible difference:
- £46 provides a food parcel with 18 meals for a couple
- £79 supplies a family of five with 45 nutritious meals
Beyond emergency food, your support helps us develop our “Advice First” model, transforming our nine outlets into community hubs that provide pathways to long-term solutions. We’re working upstream to prevent food poverty, not just treating its symptoms.
How You Can Help
Support Chris as he takes on the Great Bristol Run half-marathon for NBSG Foodbank:
- Donate: Visit Chris’s fundraising page to contribute directly to his £1,000 target. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to supporting local people in crisis.
- Share with a personal touch: After donating, please reshare Chris’s fundraising page with friends and family. Add your own personal message about why you’ve supported this cause—personal recommendations are incredibly powerful.
- Cheer him on: Mark Sunday, 11 May in your calendar and send messages of encouragement as Chris pushes himself through all 13.1 miles for those facing food poverty in our community.
Your support will help us provide emergency food parcels while developing our “Advice First” model to address the root causes of food poverty. Together, we can make a lasting difference in North Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
