Yorkshire bedmaker goes the extra mile for children in bed poverty

Yorkshire bedmaker, Harrison Spinks, is fundraising for Leeds-based charity, Zarach, transforming every mile of the London Marathon into a mattress for children living without a proper bed.

David Labuschagne, head of marketing at Harrison Spinks, will run the London Marathon on Sunday 26th April, with each mile completed matched by the donation of a bespoke mattress, helping to give children experiencing bed poverty a safe and comfortable place to sleep.

The company’s fundraising initiative builds on a longstanding partnership with the charity, through which more than 820 bespoke mattresses have already been donated to children experiencing bed poverty.

As part of its London Marathon fundraising, the company will donate a further 26 mattresses, in addition to its ongoing commitment to provide 30 mattresses each month -- each one supporting a child to enjoy a safe and comfortable night’s sleep.

The local charity is on a mission to end child bed poverty, ensuring every child has a safe, comfortable place to sleep and the chance to thrive at school. Partnering with schools to identify children experiencing bed poverty, Zarach connects families with community support services, delivering bed bundles to children across West Yorkshire, the Tees Valley, Liverpool, and Stockport – making an immediate and lasting difference to their lives.

Each bespoke mattress donated by Harrison Spinks is carefully handcrafted with natural fillings, where every bed carries a bespoke label stitched into the fabric carrying the heartwarming message: ‘Made with love in Leeds’.

David said: “Running the London Marathon is a huge personal challenge, but it’s nothing compared to the challenges many children face every night without a safe place to sleep. Knowing the long-lasting difference a safe, comfortable bed can make to a child’s life, makes every mile worth it, and I am so proud to support the vital work Zarach is doing.

“We’ve been proud to support Zarach for several years now, and having recently increased our monthly mattress donations by 50%, we’re delighted to continue this longstanding partnership. The marathon is no exception, and I’ll be motivated by knowing that every mile directly helps children experiencing bed poverty get the safe, comfortable sleep they need to thrive.”

Amy Green, head of communications at Zarach, said: “We’re so incredibly grateful to Harrison Spinks and their partnership. We’re delighted that David has chosen to take on such a huge challenge to raise awareness and funds for Zarach; children’s lives will be changed because of his efforts.”