I run to make people aware that 2 women a week are killed
A FORMER police officer has completed a month of mini- marathons, each run honouring someone killed by domestic abuse.
Dr Anna Hopkins, 42, felt driven to highlight the shocking fact that every week in England and Wales, the lives of two women are taken by a partner, or an ex.
The Daily Express’s pioneering End This Injustice crusade has demanded family courts are made safer for domestic abuse victims.
Anna, of Lancaster, is raising money for Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse, a small charity that helps the families of the victims.
For each of the 13 runs, she has shared the story of a victim with a note against their name, adding: “this run is for you”.
Anna said: “We’ve made lots of really good changes to legislation, policing and other support, but the figures have remained the same over decades.
“We need some activism and awareness on this – and the runs have prompted conversations around the issue.”
Run One was in memory of Maggie Smyth, 29, whose body was found in 2019 under rubble at a former pub in Bolton where her ex- partner Christopher Taylor, 39, had been working. Her leg was discovered in a park by a dog walker, but her head is still missing.
Anna said: “I wanted to make them recent and local so they would have greater impact.
“I didn’t want people
Ana has dedicated each run to victim of domestic abuse
to say ‘ well that’s sad, but it couldn’t happen to me’. It could happen to you.” Anna has covered 130 miles in 13 days and this weekend will add to that an extra half- marathon hoping that 13 runners will join her.
The event is being timed to coincide with UN Women’s # 16daysofactivism which aims to highlight gender- based violence. University lecturer Anna worked on domestic violence cases as a serving police officer for eight years and has completed a PhD studying the horrific problem. To donate visit www. justgiving. com/ fundraising/ anna- hopkins7