Portsmouth Samaritans volunteers tackle the Great South Run
The team is among thousands of people taking part in the Great South Run this weekend
A team of eight volunteers from Portsmouth Samaritans are swapping their headsets for trainers to take on the Great South Run. They are running to raise awareness of the support Samaritans offers and to raise essential funds for their branch.
Last year, Portsmouth Samaritans answered more than 25,000 calls from people who needed someone to listen. From their base in London Road, the branch has been supporting people in distress for more than 60 years, thanks to the generous support of the community in Portsmouth and the surrounding area.
Warren Cooper, Branch Director, said: “We want anyone who is struggling to know that Samaritans is here to listen, day or night. You don’t have to face difficult feelings alone, and you don’t need to wait until things reach a crisis before reaching out.”
“Our volunteers give their time freely, but keeping the branch running comes at a cost, and those costs continue to rise. Fundraising events like this help us keep our service free and available to anyone who needs us, and we are grateful for every donation, however small.”
“If you’re coming to watch the Great South Run, please look out for our team in their Samaritans vests and give them a cheer. You can also help by sharing our JustGiving page with friends, family and colleagues. Thank you for helping us to spread the word and raise funds for the branch.”
To support the team, please visit their JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/samaritansgse2026