Putting our values in motion: running the London Marathon alongside Stonewall Housing

When you line up at the start of a marathon, you’re not just thinking about 26.2 miles ahead – you’re thinking about who you’re running for. 

This year I had the privilege of running the London Marathon on behalf of Xero and our amazing charity partner, Stonewall Housing, along with my colleague David Stribling. Running for Stonewall Housing and our Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG) was a powerful reminder of why this partnership matters: marathon training means pushing through tough moments with support around you. Stonewall Housing walks alongside LGBTQ+ people facing their own difficult journeys, helping provide specialist support and a safe place to call home when they need it most.

Finding balance

Now I’m not an athlete, but I do love exercise and staying healthy. At Xero we recognise the importance of prioritising health and wellbeing, but I know first-hand how hard it can be to balance that with family life and a full calendar, so I’ve been trying to lead by example. Training for the marathon meant blocking morning or lunchtime runs into my diary, stepping away from my desk, and being open with the team about the importance of taking a break.

It’s not all about pace or distance – as much as I enjoy a competitive race. It’s about protecting time for your wellbeing and the hobbies that help you recharge. A few things that helped me:

• Schedule it like any other meeting – if it’s in the diary, you’re more likely to honour it. We’re a global company, which means we often have meetings outside of the usual work hours. Our flexible approach helps us fit in our hobbies and exercise around our work commitments.
• Start small and be consistent – some days are harder than others to motivate yourself. A 20‑minute walk or jog at lunch can make a real difference and you never regret it.
• Bring others on the journey – let family, friends and colleagues know your goals so they can support you, and maybe even join you.

Taking real breaks and making time to stay active or enjoy hobbies outside work isn’t a ‘nice to have’ – it boosts energy, perspective and resilience, which in turn supports better focus, productivity and overall team wellbeing.

Pride at Xero: standing with Stonewall Housing

Our Pride ERG has been partnering with Stonewall Housing for a few years now, helping us learn more about LGBTQ+ homelessness and come together for a cause that matters to our people.

Thanks to our Pride ERG, we’ve had Xeros attend London Pride alongside Stonewall Housing, we’ve welcomed their colleagues in to share real stories with our team from their frontline services, and raised funds to help them reach more people, earlier, with the right support. You can read more about our partnership in this Stonewall Housing blog. The marathon was another step in that journey – turning a personal challenge into collective impact for the communities Stonewall Housing serves.

I wasn’t out there alone. As well as David and I running for Stonewall Housing, our colleagues Brad Mannings (running for Antenatal Results and Choices), Naomi Lawrence (running for Sarcoma UK) and Joshua Lackey (running for Epilepsy Action) all took on the marathon for causes deeply personal to them – a brilliant reflection of how our people bring their whole selves to work and stand up for the issues that matter most in their lives and communities.

Building a culture of belonging

At Xero, we’re proud of a culture where we get behind each other when we take on big challenges, and where our ERGs help us turn our values into action. 

These employee resource groups offer a space to connect with others who share similar backgrounds, life experiences, or interests, and help to create a greater sense of belonging at Xero. They’re voluntary, employee-led groups built on shared characteristics, experiences or allyship, where people can exchange ideas and feel at home. You can find out more about our approach to embedding inclusion into our culture here.