STAFF from Hampshire Football Association will be joining members of Adopt South to get their running shoes on and raise awareness of the need for adopters, during National Adoption Week (October 14 to 20), by taking part in the Great South Run on Sunday, October 20.

Participation by the Adopt South Team will mark the end of a week of awareness raising events aimed specifically at encouraging people to consider becoming an adoptive parent for children in need of a forever home.

Children like Lilly aged three years, or two-year-old Sam. Lilly had a very sad start in life, neglected and in a home environment that was chaotic and dangerous. However, with the support of her foster carers Lilly is now a very bright, bubbly and affectionate child who likes to play with other children and gains a lot from being with her foster family. Meeting all her learning milestones at nursery, she is always busy and loves to learn. She enjoys playing with her dolls and in the family’s playhouse, as well as being outside enjoying walks and time in the local children’s park.

Sam is an alert and inquisitive boy, who melts the hearts of everyone he meets because of his lovely smile and cheeky character. Although he was born with a genetic chromosome deletion, he recently started walking and is enjoying exploring. He can stumble and fall, but this does not deter him from learning about what is all around him. He thoroughly enjoys his play area which his foster carer has created, with soft colourful flooring and lots of interactive toys. Sam also wears a hearing aid as sometimes he cannot hear certain ranges of sound but, at home, without his aid, he responds well to everyday noises he is familiar with.

Head of Adopt South, Rachel Reynolds, commented: “We are hugely grateful for the support of the Hampshire FA in helping us to highlight the need for adopters. Currently, we are working to find homes for children, like Lilly and Sam. Each one deserves loving parents who can care for them deeply, raising them in a nurturing and happy home. We are continually striving to place children with the right adopters for them, at the earliest opportunity, to give the children a permanent home and minimise the time that they are cared for by foster carers.”

Rachel added: “If just one person or couple from each village, town or city in our region contacts us, even for just an initial discussion, we would already be closer to finding the best family match for our children.”

Neil Cassar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hampshire FA, said, “We are proud to support Adopt South in raising awareness around the region during National Adoption week and throughout the football season, especially to all our member clubs and volunteers to help find more individuals and couples who can give a child a forever family.”

Ahead of the Run, over the course of National Adoption Week, Adopt South is holding the following drop-in information events:

* Monday 14 October 2019 (10am to 12pm), at Hampshire County Council’s Headquarters, Elizabeth II Court, Winchester, SO23 8UJ;

* Thursday 17 October 2019 (5pm to 8pm) at Adopt South, Glen House, Swanwick, SO31 7HD.

At the Great South Run, runners and spectators are invited to visit the Adopt South marquee in the Charity Village, where they can show their support and gather information about adoption. More information about Adopt South can be found online at www.adoptsouth.org.uk. Alternatively, call 0300 3000 011.