At 11:00 on Sunday 15th Oct 2023, our Police and Justice Lead Lin takes part in the Bath Half Marathon.

I spoke to Lin and asked her what motivated her to take part, how she had trained and why she chose to use this as a fundraising opportunity for NWG and Link to Change

Have you always been a runner?

I started running during the first lockdown in 2020.  I had tried the Couch to 5K app before and failed so, I tried again. It worked and made me realise that it doesn’t matter how old you are or what your level of fitness is, it is possible to really enjoy running. I lost weight and it made me feel so much better physically and emotionally. 

Why the Bath Half Marathon?

Last February I ran 10Kms for the first time, in the Bedford 10K/Half Marathon. Shortly after, I heard about registrations for the Bath Half Marathon and mostly, because it is my birth town, I thought that if I was ever going to do one, it would be there. 

I turned 60 in April and have made a list of personal challenges for myself; the Half Marathon is on that list!

Why did you decide to use the marathon as a fundraising opportunity?

I want to use this ‘personal challenge’ in a productive way and decided that I could use it to raise the profile of Child Exploitation on a national and local level. I live in Bedford and I am keenly aware of the amazing direct work that ‘Link to Change’ does for children and their families affected by exploitation. Similarly, as the Police and Justice Lead for the NWG, I am very aware of how our team supports the network on a practical and strategic level too.  

How has the training been going for you?

To be honest, this has been one of the hardest physical challenges for me since the Couch to 5K; I started training for the Bath Half 4 months ago. In the last couple of weeks, I have struggled to get up at 5:30 a.m. to go out for a run before work, my body has felt tired and has really ached. I have had a couple of blisters but nothing too significant and I have a fabulous sports masseuse – she has been amazing!

What has been the biggest motivation for you?

I just kept telling myself “Think about those children who wake up every day in physical and emotional pain and have no choice” – this has been the biggest motivator of all. 

I am under no illusion, I know this will not be plain sailing and I am not looking to beat a Personal Best time (although of course, it will be a PB because it’s my first! Haha!), but it is a reminder to me and I hope it will be for others, that children who are exploited, face physical and emotional challenges and pain every day. That’s why we all have a duty to do everything in our power to irradiate this degrading and dehumanising abuse and one small but significant way, is to make more people aware of what it is and how knowledge can serve to ensure it is spotted as early as possible, so that children can become free.

How can people support you?

If you are in Bath please come along and encourage the runners.

I have set up a GoFundMe page with a target of £1000 in donations for each of the two charities. It would be amazing to reach that target or even more!

I would love you to share my GoFundMe page far and wide and please, even if you can donate just £1.00 it will make a difference.

Click here to access my page and help me reach my target

Finally, how will you celebrate after Sunday’s run?

You will find me with a glass of champagne, a big chocolate Brownie and my feet soaking in some warm water

Thank you, Lin – we hope you manage to enjoy your Half Marathon, and thank you for raising awareness and funds for such important causes.

Will you come back and tell us how it all went?

Oh yes! I will be back!

Good Luck Lin

Scan to donate to Lins Fundraiser