Armed Forces widow runs marathon for charity Scotty's

She chose to help a raise vital funds for a charity that supported her children following the death of her husband almost ten years ago.

Sarah’s husband and the father to two of her children, Fusilier James Wilkinson, was killed in a training accident in Kenya in 2011.

He was just 21 years old when he died leaving behind Connor, who was just two years old, and Annabelle, who hadn’t been born. Sarah was six months pregnant when she was told the news every military wife dreads.

Since 2015, both Annabelle, now nine, and Connor, now 12, have been supported by bereaved Armed Forces children’s charity, Scotty’s Little Soldiers.

The charity was set up by war widow Nikki Scott and offers integral support to children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the Armed Forces.

As a way of giving back to the charity, Sarah decided to take part in the May Marathon challenge, where participants complete a marathon distance throughout May, while raising much needed funds.

Sarah, 31, who has only recently started running, completed the challenge in two weeks, raising more than £500.

She said: “It’s definitely been a challenge, but I’m so pleased I’ve managed to complete it.

"Scotty’s have been amazing and they do so much for Annabelle and Connor that I wanted to do something to give back.

"I grew up without a dad, so I know how hard it is for my children and lots of other military children who are growing up without one of their parents.

"Connor, who was so young when James died, has very few memories of his dad and is starting to process things differently as he gets older.

"Annabelle never knew her dad, James died before she was born, so she deals with things in a completely different way to Connor.”

To donate to Sarah’s May Marathon fundraiser visit: maymarathon.com/fundraising/sarahs-fundraising-page1853