For the first time ever, GFS has bagged a place in the world-famous London Marathon, and after much deliberation, we’re delighted to introduce our runner – South East London marketer, freelance writer, and GFS Mile End volunteer, Izzy Johnson!
When Izzy lines up for the London Marathon this spring, she’ll be taking on her bucket-list race and raising £2,000 for GFS – but she won’t just be chasing a finish time.
She’ll be running for the girls she sees every week at her local GFS group. The ones who barrel through the door on a Saturday morning with private jokes, big ideas, and hugs for their friends.
“London Marathon has always been my number one,” Izzy said. “It’s a bucket-list dream, and doing it for GFS makes it mean even more.”
Having first discovered GFS during the Pandemic, Izzy now helps us create welcoming spaces where girls can build confidence through friendship, creativity and play.
“Like many people during the pandemic, I started reflecting on how I was spending my time” Izzy said. “I wanted to invest more of my energy in something that actually mattered to me.”
Remote at first, Izzy helped create online content for GFS sessions. As lockdown restrictions lifted, she became one of the founding volunteers at the GFS Mile End group, supporting weekly meet-ups during term time.
“Starting a group from scratch is special,” Izzy said. “You’re building awareness, spreading the word locally and then, week by week, you see the atmosphere take shape.”
What does impact look like? Small moments that add up.
“At the beginning, some girls are a bit shy. By the end of term they’re racing in to see each other. The confidence shift is real, and they take it back to school and into their lives.”
Izzy’s stand-out moments and memories from her group include a Met-Gala-inspired fashion show with outfits made from recycled materials, a friend coming in to talk about working in politics, trips to the zoo and even to Google’s offices!
“Each week is memorable,” Izzy said. “And GFS never tries to ‘fix’ girls or tell them who to be. It’s about listening, backing them, and creating a warm community where they can grow into whoever they want.”
Volunteering has changed Izzy as well.
“It’s made me more intentional with my time,” Izzy said. “Not everything is about productivity. Showing up for what matters has helped me say ‘no’ to the things that drain me and ‘yes’ to the things that challenge me in the right ways. The girls are watching how you listen and handle messy moments – it holds you to a higher standard.”
Training officially starts in January, in the dark and rain. On race day, she’ll start with podcasts, to try and distract from the running. Then, when the pain sets in, likely around the half way point, it’ll be music only.
Izzy’s fundraising target is £2,000, with plans for a community-minded push in West Norwood.
Think independent cafés and restaurants hosting a brunch, coffee morning, or supper club to boost donations.
She’ll also tap her LinkedIn and Instagram networks, local press and charity podcasts.
Izzy says, sometimes people hold back because April seems far away, but in reality it’s just around the corner!
So, she’s doing her best to make it feel local and immediate.
“That I’ve done GFS, my friends and family, and everyone who donated, proud. And that I set my mind to something and delivered.”
Her message for the girls she runs for is simple – and fierce: “The world might try to shrink you or make you second-guess yourself. You’re allowed to be bold, messy, curious and unapologetically ambitious, and kind while you do it.”