Victoria's once in a lifetime achievement

A month ago Victoria Smith attempted her first ever marathon to raise money for our work. She had plumped for the Edinburgh marathon and having only done a few 10K races over the years it was a challenge to to start training in the cold, wet and windy winter weather.

By the time she could run for 15 miles she felt her feet were never going to forgive her. It was hard pacing the inner city streets of Leeds on her own every Sunday, while her friends were snuggled on the sofa! She said “motivation is tough to come by, but it helped knowing that I was doing to make a difference to a child somewhere in desperate need”.

Victoria became a Body Shop at Home™ consultant in June last year and had gone along to a number of meetings where there were updates about the work done by Children on the Edge across the world.  When she decided to take the plunge and complete a marathon for the first ever time in her 30th year she said “I couldn't of chosen a more deserving charity to run for as I felt inspired by all the other consultants who were undertaking various activities in aid of this great cause”.

When the big day came it was 24 degrees and no amount of training could have prepared her for hours running in the sun with absolutely no shade.  Despite this, Victoria completed the marathon in 5 hours and 19 seconds and was pleased with her result. Just over a week later she was fully recovered and back in her trainers!

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Victoria and congratulate her on this once in a lifetime achievement. She has already raised over £750 for our projects so she can rest assured that all her hard work has had a massive impact not just on her leg muscles, but in the lives of some of the most overlooked children on the edges of society.

If Victoria’s story has inspired you to take on a challenge for Children on the Edge, then get in touch. 

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