Eleanor’s marathon bid to help homeless project

It will be a family affair when Plymouth support worker Eleanor Burston runs 26 miles in a bid to help the city’s homeless people.

For Eleanor will be joined by dad Tim and sister Isobel when she takes on the Edinburgh Marathon in May to raise money for the Somewhere Safe to Stay project run by BCHA, a housing charity which has been helping people for more than 50 years.

Eleanor joined BCHA’s Plymouth team at Fairfield House last September after finishing university and works on the Somewhere Safe to Stay project as a complex needs support worker.

She explained: “I took up long distance running about a year ago because I needed a new hobby and wanted to set myself a challenge. And now with my first marathon I want to try to raise money for BCHA’s work.

“Somewhere Safe to Stay is a lovely project. We provide short-stay temporary accommodation for people who have nowhere to live, then continue to support them afterwards in their new tenancy.

“It will be great running with my dad and sister – they have both run marathons before. We all did the Bath Half together last year and we aim to stick together round the course.

Eleanor chose Edinburgh for her first marathon as her mum, Carol, is Scottish and the family knows and loves the city.

Eleanor said: “We’re all going up together for a few days and mum and my partner Connah will be cheering us on.

“I just hope as many people as possible can sponsor me so we can raise a good amount for the project.”

Donations can be made via Eleanor’s JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ss2s