Biography
A professional footballer, Marcus Rashford plays for Manchester United and uses his fame and influence in his ambition to end childhood poverty in the UK.
Born into a single-parent family in 1997, Marcus joined the academy system at Manchester United aged 7. Due to his family circumstances, he often struggled to attend training sessions, and it was this personal experience with poverty that led him towards activism later in his career.
In 2016, he made his senior debut in the UEFA Europa League. In his distinguished career, he has represented England 4 times, and overcame injury to remain one of the most talented and dedicated footballers of his generation.
During the lockdown in 2020, he teamed up with a charity in Manchester to deliver food to local children who were no longer getting free school meals. Thanks to his support, the campaign went nationwide, and his influence is credited with changing government policy. In October 2020, he was appointed MBE for his ongoing efforts to end childhood poverty.
In November 2020, he launched a book club to help underprivileged children experience the joy of reading. His first children’s book, You Are A Champion, won Book of the Year at the British Book Awards 2022. He also writes the fiction series The Breakfast Club Adventures.
Exploring issues such as poverty and isolation, Marcus Rashford children’s books also celebrate community, the bravery of asking for help and the power of friendship and loyalty. Thanks to his campaigning, Marcus Rashford is ensuring that all children can enjoy the life-changing power of books.
