A volunteer helping to tackle loneliness in older people will be taking on The Leeds Abbey Dash – 10k for Age UK as part of her latest efforts to support the charity.
Charlotte Corner, 30, has been volunteering for Age UK’s Telephone Friendship Service for the past three years. The service aims to tackle loneliness by matching older people with volunteers like Charlotte for a regular chat over the phone.
Charlotte, from Horsforth, has been matched with a woman in her 90s who she talks to once a week. With recent ONS stats showing that around 1.2 million older people across the UK often feel lonely, Age UK’s Telephone Friendship Service has been a lifeline for thousands of older people who feel isolated and alone.
The Leeds Abbey Dash – 10k for Age UK takes place between Leeds city centre and Kirkstall Abbey on on Sunday, 23 October 2022 and the money raised will go towards support and befriending services for older people in Yorkshire, as well as Age UK’s national advice line and telephone friendship services.
As well as loneliness being a huge issue, older people are facing a challenging time with the rising cost of living, with those most vulnerable struggling to make ends meet. Age UK’s services provide vital support for those who have no one to turn to.
Charlotte, a former journalism student at Leeds Beckett University, said: “It’s my third time taking on The Leeds Abbey Dash and for me the race ticks all the boxes. It’s in the best city there is, the halfway point is right next to one of the most beautiful monuments in Leeds, the Kirkstall Abbey, and it’s supporting a fantastic charity.
“I know from my volunteering work with Age UK that it’s a life changing charity for so many older people. On a weekly basis I call my telephone friend where we put the world to rights, talk about our families, what’s for tea and Netflix shows we’ve been watching. It’s a two-way friendship and I look forward to our calls.”
Lydia Curran, Head of Events at Age UK, said the Leeds Abbey Dash was perfect for runners of all abilities. She added: “We’re thrilled to have Charlotte taking part in this year’s Leeds Abbey Dash – 10k for Age UK and wish her the best of luck for race day! Charlotte’s volunteering and fundraising is such an inspiration and we hope others will follow in her footsteps and help Age UK be there for older people who have no one else.
“We’re encouraging everyone to take part – we’ve put together a 10k training plan to support beginners who might not have run a 10k before, as well as a training plan for those who run regularly already, which are now available on our website. So please, head over to our website and sign up today.”
People cam sign up to the event here. Training plans for runners can be found here.
