Councillor Triples Marathon Goal for Chichester Foodbank

When Harsha Desai crossed the London Marathon finish line, she knew she'd done more than complete 26.2 miles. The Chichester District Councillor had tripled her £1,000 fundraising goal for the local food bank where she volunteers.

Desai chose to run for Chichester District Foodbank after seeing a troubling reality during her volunteer shifts. Last year, 39% of the emergency food distributed by the organization went to children across the district.

"What's meant the most is seeing the support from people across our community," Desai said. "This challenge was all about helping children and families locally who are facing hunger."

The funds will directly support families with children through new initiatives launching this year. Chichester District Foodbank plans to offer Family Matters summer groups in Midhurst with Home-Start and Festive Bites on a Budget, a Christmas cookery class and storytime for families.

Why This Inspires

Desai's marathon represents something bigger than one person's athletic achievement. It shows what happens when someone with insider knowledge of a problem takes direct action and rallies community support around a solution.

Sarah Adams, CEO of Chichester District Foodbank, emphasized the real-world impact. "At a time when so many families are under pressure, this support will make a real difference," she said.

The combination of Desai's dual role as both councillor and volunteer gave her unique insight into the growing need. Her willingness to transform that awareness into exhausting physical effort inspired her community to give generously.

For Desai, the personal achievement matched the fundraising success. Her donation page remains open for anyone wanting to contribute to helping local families access healthy food and positive experiences.

One marathon, triple the goal, and countless children who will benefit from a councillor who turned miles into meals.