A determined Southport Methodist Minister is putting her best foot forward to support vulnerable communities around the world

REVEREND Marie Anne Kent, from St Philip and St Paul with Wesley Church, is taking part in the London Marathon, on:- Sunday, 27 April 2025, to raise money for international development agency Christian Aid. The 58 year old has set herself a £4,000 target and raised almost £1,000 already.

She said:- "Having witnessed firsthand the horror of the riot in Southport last July and the way fear, misinformation and difference were used to try to divide the community, watching how asylum seekers were attacked in other parts of the country, I wanted to make a stand for hope and understanding. Running the London Marathon will help to raise money to support those affected by poverty, climate change and conflict. I have never even run for a bus, but I thought this was something I could do. I don’t have to walk vast distances to be safe, to reach education or healthcare, but I know that running just 26 miles (and a bit) will help to make a difference and support projects, run by Christian Aid’s partners, in vulnerable communities around the world, tackling poverty and injustice."

This year, the organisation is marking its 80th Anniversary and its London Marathon runners are all part of Team Hope; demonstrating the unstoppable power of hoping for a better future. To support Marie Anne please visit her Just Giving Page. Marie Anne Kent is fundraising for Christian Aid and to find out more about Christian Aid please go to:- ChristianAid.Org.UK.

THESE are the 1st 2 of the events we have been told about, which are being run for the 80th Anniversary of VE Day on Merseyside. If you have any other events, please do let us know by emailing us at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

The 1st is the:- Uke-a-ladiez who will be playing at the:- Crossens Community Centre who will be holding an event on the:- 8 May 2025, from:- 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm, The group will have a specially commissioned cake, with VE DAP printed on top. The Centre will be decorated with:- Union Jack table cloths, poppy decorations, VE Day Flags and bunting. You do not need to register to attended, just pop on down and pay £3 on the door! It's worth adding that the funds raised from the event will go directly to the Crossens Community Centre, which is located at:- The Old Library, Rufford Road, Crossens, Southport, Merseyside, PR98HT. For more information, please call:- 01704225884. Plus, volunteers of the Crossens Community Association, who manage the Centre have informed us that should you find yourself unable they are also holding their:- 'Summer Fair' which is planned for the:- 22 June 2025, more details to follow about that event...

Residents in Formby will be interested to know that the Formby Parish Council are holding a themed event called:- 'The 80th Anniversary VE Day Afternoon Tea Dance.' This event will also be held on:- Thursday, 8 May 2025, and will run from:- 1 pm to 430 pm, at the:- Gild Hall, Formby. This event is an afternoon of dancing and music from the 1940s selected by DJ Dapper Dan. A selection of:- sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee, will be included in the ticket, and other refreshments will be available to buy. Tickets are FREE to those of you over 60, but the event has a maximum of tickets you can have of 4 per person. To book and arrange collection of tickets, please call:- 01704395955, Monday to Wednesday, between:- 10 am to 12 noon. Alternatively, please email:- Clerk@Formby-PC.Gov.UK. The Gild Hall if you are unaware is located on:- Church Road, Formby, Merseyside, L373NG.