“The Crimestoppers ethos is very important to me. I love that you’re committed to making communities safer”

Mum-of-one Abbie Elkins from Weston-super-Mare is running her first marathon this year; read on to find out why she chose us, and how she balances training with life with a one year old!

Why did you choose to run for Crimestoppers?

I want to help give a voice to anybody who may find it difficult to speak out publicly about crime, after being a victim of crime myself in the past.

I’m ticking off probably the biggest challenge on my ‘30 things to do before 30’ list by running this marathon. I want to raise a minimum of £100 a mile for Crimestoppers, who I believe are doing a great job.

The Crimestoppers ethos is very important to me. I love that they are committed to making communities safer. The charity has helped me in the past, and friends of mine, so it is very close to my heart.

What made you decide to run the London Marathon?

My brother ran the London Marathon for Crimestoppers in 2017 and my Mum the year before, so it’s my turn now. I’m determined to beat my brother’s time. He ran it in five-and-a-half hours. We’re quite a competitive family!

I would love to complete the marathon in four-and-a-half hours, but the main thing will be to actually finish the race!

What do your friends and family think about you running the London Marathon?

Some are nervous for me but the majority are really proud. They know how much training I’ve been doing. They’ve also been great at helping me to fundraise and with looking after my one-year-old daughter while I run.

How have you found the training?

Having a young child can be restricting. Doing training around my normal life has been tricky, as life must carry on.

I’m usually involved in musical theatre, dancing and amateur dramatics. I’ve put these on hold until after the marathon.

So, what will you do straight after running the London Marathon?

After the run I’ll have some good food and I think I deserve a spa day! I won’t give up running; I’ll continue to do it recreationally but probably won’t do another race for a while!

You can support Abbie on her fundraising page.

"I know the money raised is going to a good cause" - read Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper's blog on why he's taking part in the London Marathon 2019 for us.

"I'm proud to be able to raise money to help Crimestoppers" - find out why ultra-marathon runner Daniel is representing us at the London Marathon this year.