Lancaster mum undertakes month of 10 mile runs in memory of domestic violence victims

Anna Hopkins is aiming to raise awareness of the fact that two women every week are killed by a partner or ex-partner.

Figures of domestic violence have also risen during lockdown, with numbers reported by a Home Affairs Committee as being 16 deaths in the first three weeks of lockdown earlier this year - roughly five deaths a week.

Anna is running 125 miles in 13 days across November - which equals three 10 mile runs a week - and is dedicating every run to a domestic violence homicide victim from across the north west.

She also hopes to raise funds for AAFDA - Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse, a small charity which helps the families of the victims.

Anna is an academic at the Open University whose research is in domestic violence, and previously worked as a police officer in domestic violence.

Anna is also planning a day of activism to coincide with UN Women's #16daysofactivism which aims to highlight gender-based violence.

On her final day, she hopes to be joined by 13 people, who will each run or walk a mile.

She said: "I plan to finish my epic running challenge by doing half a marathon and I would like to turn this into a Covid safe day of activism against domestic violence."

Anna hopes to have a banner to raise awareness of what she is doing, which she will make 2m long so that it is Covid safe.

The route she will run is from Lancaster to Morecambe, and during the miles shared she would like to talk about the fact that two women a week are being killed by their partner or ex-partner.

You can donate to Anna's nominated cause, and find out more about the victims she is dedicating her runs to, by going online here