The fundraising May Marathon is returning this year to support a much-loved West Norfolk-based charity.
It encourages people to complete the marathon distance of 26.2 miles however they like to raise money for Scotty’s Little Soldiers which supports Armed Forces children.
Last year’s event raised almost £7000 and it is hoping to raise even more 12 months on.
12-year-old Sebastian Hill (above) has completed the May Marathon every year since he joined the charity in 2017, raising over £2,000 in the process. His dad, Royal Navy chaplain Reverend John Hill MBE, died of a heart attack in 2010.
“I love Scotty’s,” Sebastian said. “I love everything about it, from the Christmas parties to the vouchers they send me on Remembrance Day and my dad’s anniversaries. I’ve made so many friends through Scotty’s and I know now that I’m not the only one who has lost their dad and that’s really comforting.”
It’s not just Scotty’s beneficiaries that get involved, either. In 2020, comedian and columnist Jenny Beake took part in the challenge while dressed up as Wonder Woman, and in 2021, she and Annie Kelly completed the challenge in the form of a chicken and an egg. The pair raised a great sum of money, and turned more than a few heads in the process. They are pictured above.
“Death is always hard to deal with, especially for a young person losing a parent,” said Jenny Beake. “The armed forces protect us all, and the death of those fallen heroes is far reaching for their families. I choose to run the May Marathon in support of Scotty’s to show there are people willing to help make a difference and to prove life can be fun again.”
Scotty’s Little Soldiers was set up in 2010 by war widow Nikki Scott and offers integral support to children and young people aged 0-25 who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. Nikki saw the devastating impact the death of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, had on their two young children and wanted to help others in the same situation.
Scotty’s founder, Nikki, said: “I’m really excited about this year’s May Marathon. The support we receive every year is incredible, and it always makes me so happy to see our own members taking part. I’m always touched when I see how much they want to help the charity that helps them. I’ve taken part myself, so I know how hard it is. I’m not much of a runner, but I got a real buzz from the experience, and knowing all the effort I put in was helping bereaved children and young people is a feeling that can’t be matched. The struggle I felt running those 26 miles is nothing compared to what our members go through. The money raised from the May Marathon challenge always goes a long way in helping us continue to deliver high level support to bereaved children and young people, and I can’t wait to see everyone getting involved.”
Register for the 2022 May Marathon challenge here: scottychallenges.co.uk/challenge/month-of-may-marathon/
To learn more about Scotty’s Little Soldiers, visit: http://scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk