I’ll run the Paris Half Marathon for PLAY International , a charity that uses sport to give children education, inclusion and a fairer start, from France to Senegal or Kosovo. This one is personal. Sport and education have been the two constants of my life . Education runs in my family . My grandmother, Séraphine, studied in France then returned to Benin, where we are from, to found a preschool rather than build a career here. She championed education her whole life and became my greatest inspiration, so much so that I named my daughter after her, Serafina. Sport has been my compass for as long as I can remember. PLAY International speaks to me because it brings these two worlds together, using sport to help children learn, belong and believe in their potential. One more reason this matters: I’m coming back from a few years of injury, so just reaching the start line means something. Crossing the finish for a cause this close to my heart will mean everything. Every donation goes directly to PLAY International’s work with children. Thank you for your help and being part of it! Marc-Aurele Jules